Education Ministry Refuses to Approve Classes, Leaving 52 Haredi Girls at Home

Fifty-two Haredi girls in Beit Shemesh have been left without schooling mid-year after the Ministry of Education refused to approve their classes at the Beit Yaakov Gur school. The decision affects grades 4, 5, and 6, with students reportedly sent home last week.

The ministry cited a lack of "continuous staffing" as the reason for denying approval for the classes, despite grades 1-3 and grade 6 meeting the required student numbers. Grades 4 and 5, with 16 and 15 students respectively, were deemed insufficient.

Parents expressed shock and frustration. "It is unthinkable that because of dry calculations of staffing, 52 girls will be thrown out into the street in the middle of the year," said Ze'ev Weinreich, a resident and parent committee representative. "The children are sitting at home crying, and the parents are helpless against the tough bureaucracy of the Ministry of Education."

The Beit Shemesh municipality, including Mayor Shmuel Greenberg and Deputy Mayor for Education Chanoch Draenger, is reportedly working with the ministry to find an exceptional solution. However, as of now, the girls remain at home.

The Ministry of Education stated that the school is privately owned and responsible for ensuring its students' education complies with licensing requirements. The ministry added that it is working with the municipality and the school's ownership to find a legal and optimal solution for the students to continue their studies as soon as possible.