Ultra-Orthodox education chief faces hearing after enforcing core curriculum rules

Political tensions over core curriculum requirements in ultra-Orthodox schools have escalated as Israel moves closer to elections. Channel 13 reported Thursday evening that political actors have spent recent days trying to push out Shi Kalderon, the Education Ministry official in charge of ultra-Orthodox education, after he took enforcement steps against institutions that do not meet ministry requirements for core studies.

According to the report, Kalderon ordered the closure of schools that refused to include core subjects in their curriculum, as required by law and ministry procedures. That move angered ultra-Orthodox parties, which then launched heavy political pressure on senior Education Ministry officials in an effort to secure his removal.

In response, Kalderon was summoned to a disciplinary hearing. But the dismissal process has run into legal resistance: the ministry’s legal adviser strongly objected to the attempt to fire him, saying it would not withstand judicial review because he acted within his professional authority to enforce the law.