Haredi Education Networks Face New Lawsuit Over Core Curriculum Failures

An Israeli watchdog group has filed a new petition with the High Court of Justice demanding the suspension of full state funding for two major Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) education networks, "Chinuch Atzmai" and "Me'ayan HaChinuch HaTorani." The group, Hiddush for Freedom of Religion and Equality, alleges that the state's responses in a previous legal proceeding revealed significant shortcomings in the teaching of core academic subjects and the employment of unqualified teachers within these networks.

Hiddush is seeking an interim order to halt what it calls "excessive" funding to these institutions for the current academic year. The petition cites data indicating that only 8% of the networks' institutions meet the required teacher certification standards. Specifically, the data suggests that 79% of the institutions lack a certified math teacher, 87% lack a qualified science teacher, and 76% of seventh and eighth-grade classes do not have a teacher certified to teach English.

The watchdog group further claims that the Ministry of Education employs flawed calculation methods that inflate funding for these networks by tens of percent. Hiddush argues that the ministry incorrectly calculates the deficit in core curriculum hours by including religious studies, rather than assessing each subject and grade level individually. Additionally, the petition asserts that the ministry permits a reduction of nearly half the required core curriculum hours for institutions that extend their school year by only six weeks. The group also alleges that salary supplements have been approved for teachers lacking degrees who teach core subjects, contrary to ministry guidelines.

Consequently, Hiddush requests the court to cap the funding for these networks at a maximum of 75%, similar to recognized but unofficial institutions, and to prohibit the hiring of new, unqualified teachers. The group also urges the court to advance the hearing date, currently set for January, to prevent the transfer of funds that may be irrecoverable.