Dispute Over 17 Unenrolled Children Between Nazareth and Reineh

Seventeen children from the Bilal neighborhood, situated between Nazareth and Reineh, remain without school enrollment as a dispute over municipal responsibility continues. The neighborhood is split, with one part under the jurisdiction of the Reineh Local Council and the other under the Nazareth Municipality. Many children from the area, including siblings of the unenrolled students, attend the Al-Qastal school, which falls under the Nazareth Municipality, complicating the separation of students based on residency.

This issue is not new; a similar situation last year was resolved through cooperation between parents, the school, and both local authorities, establishing a class to accommodate the children. However, the problem has resurfaced at the start of the new academic year, leaving families in a difficult position. Parents have appealed to education officials and the Ministry of Education without success.

Reineh Local Council head, Jamil Bseoul, stated that the council is prepared to facilitate the enrollment of these children in its own school, Jisr, located in the neighborhood. He acknowledged that Al-Qastal school is closer to the children's homes and that the council has previously offered accommodations due to this proximity. However, he noted that Nazareth Municipality claims that accepting students from Reineh is contingent on funding from the Ministry of Education.

Nazareth Municipality's Director General, Nahida Mansour, confirmed that the municipality is in contact with the Ministry of Education regarding the 17 children. She explained that the complex situation stems from the neighborhood's divided jurisdiction and financial considerations, as educating students from Reineh incurs costs that require ministry funding. Mansour indicated that the ministry will collect the children's names and emphasized that any lasting solution must consider the proximity of Al-Qastal school and the presence of siblings there.

During discussions, a temporary solution involving continued enrollment at Al-Qastal school was proposed, alongside calls from parents to avoid leaving the children without schooling, referencing the temporary arrangement from the previous year.