Labor Ministry Director Praises Haredi Yeshiva's Success in Educating Students

Robbie Shemesh, Director-General of the Ministry of Labor, visited the "Or Ha'etid" Haredi vocational high school in Gan Yavne to mark the start of the academic year. The school, founded by the Atid educational network, presented its educational and professional programs, highlighting high student achievement rates that place it among leading institutions supervised by the ministry.

Shemesh observed the school's unique model, designed for Haredi youth who wish to maintain a full religious framework while acquiring significant vocational education. This integrated approach supports students throughout their studies, combining religious studies, general education, and technological training. The high school currently enrolls approximately 170 students.

The curriculum includes rigorous religious studies led by senior yeshiva figures, alongside supplementary academic and professional training. The school has demonstrated success in helping students with initially lower academic foundations achieve significant progress, including reaching four units in mathematics and completing matriculation exams, enabling them to pursue advanced technological studies.

Shemesh also noted the exceptionally low dropout rates at "Or Ha'etid." His tour continued to the Haredi "Hesder" yeshiva and the technological college, where students can earn an electrical engineering diploma after completing the 13th and 14th grades, while still maintaining religious studies.

"What I saw here is a model that successfully provides a real solution for Haredi youth who have chosen a path suited to their abilities," Shemesh stated. "The ability to take a student with academic gaps, believe in him, accompany him, and bring him to four units in mathematics and an electrical engineering diploma is, in my eyes, a significant achievement." He added that impressive data and near-zero dropout rates prove that a proper framework combining religious observance with high-level professional studies can open real horizons for young people. The Ministry of Labor, he emphasized, prioritizes quality training that provides youth with professions, advancement opportunities, and a future in employment.

The visit concluded with Shemesh expressing admiration for the achievements presented and the model's ability to bridge religious identity with sought-after technological skills, ultimately empowering students to fulfill their potential and build a future of dignified earning.