Quebec Court Reinstates Funding and Licenses for Belz Hasidic Schools in Montreal

About two months ago, Quebec government authorities in Montreal decided to revoke the licenses and funding for Belz Hasidic educational institutions. This decision followed allegations that the schools failed to meet mandatory instructional hours in core subjects. The affected institutions include kindergartens, Talmud Torah, and a small yeshiva serving approximately 600 students.

The authorities cited several reasons for their decision: a shortage of qualified teachers fluent in English and French, failure to comply with required teaching hours, use of unapproved study materials, and deficiencies in emergency exits. The school administration strongly denied these accusations and filed a petition with the Quebec Administrative Court seeking to overturn the government’s ruling. They argued the decision was based on incorrect factual assumptions, inconsistent analysis, and was disproportionate.

Recently, the court ruled in favor of the Belz institutions, annulling the government’s decision. This ruling allows the schools to reopen as usual and continue receiving full funding necessary for their operation. The court’s intervention ensures that the 600 students can continue their studies uninterrupted in their existing facilities.