Jerusalem Special Needs School Opens in Disrepair, Students Miss Start of Term

A new special education school in the Shuafat neighborhood of East Jerusalem, intended to integrate Arab education into Israeli frameworks, has failed to open for its students due to severe structural deficiencies. Parents discovered the dilapidated state of the building on September 1st, the start of the school year, finding torn wallpaper, a hole in a bathroom, and damaged doors. The school had reportedly been prepared for students who previously learned in a different new building in the neighborhood. Parents met with Deputy Mayor Adir Schwartz, demanding a move to a suitable new building after being told repairs would take a week. However, the students remain at home, unable to begin their studies.

One parent, Mutasem Natsheh, expressed his shock and pain, stating, "They threw us out like trash." He recounted promises of a new school with strong therapists after the summer break and criticized the municipality's handling of the situation, noting the fanfare surrounding the school's construction while the current reality is neglect. Natsheh emphasized that the building requires complete demolition and rebuilding, not a quick renovation.

The Jerusalem Municipality responded that the school opened this year after receiving all necessary approvals as part of expanding special education services in East Jerusalem. They acknowledged that parents raised concerns about building adaptations at the start of the year, stating these issues are being reviewed and addressed with parents and professional staff. The municipality also confirmed that a safe and adapted operational plan for the students is being developed.