2,000 Israeli School Principals Rebel Against Education Ministry Ahead of New School Year

Approximately 2,000 school principals from the organization "Leaders" have escalated their protest against the Israeli Ministry of Education by severing communication with the ministry's management, a stance they intend to maintain even after the school year begins on September 1, 2026. The principals warn of severe consequences stemming from budget cuts, teacher shortages, and a growing wave of principals leaving their positions. They criticize recent ministry decisions made without consulting school leaders, including drastic reductions in substitute teacher hiring, cuts to special education and at-risk youth programs, and late changes to teacher working hours.

The principals argue these measures exacerbate an already deep crisis in the education system, forcing them to constantly recruit staff, compromise teaching quality, and sometimes teach themselves due to absent teachers. They demand a halt to these decisions until professional dialogue with the ministry occurs and call for clear commitments to prevent further principal resignations. The ministry has denied the severity of the crisis and the claim that around 1,000 principals are resigning this year.

Education Minister Yoav Kish rejects the principals' claims, while the ministry attempts to downplay the rebellion, even mocking the boycott of preparatory conferences by showing images of a full hall, which the principals say was mostly attended by supervisors and not the protesting principals. The "Leaders" organization insists the ministry's refusal to engage and the minister's denial of the crisis ignore the real challenges faced on the ground. They urge the minister to freeze harmful decisions and collaborate on solutions before the school year starts.