Education Ministry's Closed Curriculum Directive Called 'Hijack' by Teachers' Union Head

Yafa Ben-David, Secretary-General of the Teachers' Union, has strongly criticized a directive from the Ministry of Education mandating that teachers use a closed list of materials for teaching. Ben-David described the directive as a "hijack" and stated that the union would not comply with it. She argued that this move undermines the professional autonomy of educators and restricts their ability to provide comprehensive and diverse instruction.

The directive, which has not yet been officially published but was reportedly communicated to educational institutions, aims to standardize teaching materials and ensure adherence to specific pedagogical guidelines. However, the Teachers' Union views this as an overreach by the ministry, potentially limiting critical thinking and the exploration of diverse perspectives in the classroom.

Ben-David emphasized that teachers are professionals capable of selecting appropriate materials for their students and that imposing a rigid, closed list is counterproductive. The union plans to discuss further actions in response to the directive, signaling a potential conflict with the Ministry of Education over curriculum control.