Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was to announce on Sunday afternoon that the current Israeli school year would be extended to the end of July, after 12 months of sporadic learning in the classroom due to the pandemic, sources said familiar with the matter.
But Ran Erez, head of the Teachers’ Union, said Sunday that schools would close on the June 20 scheduled date, “as previously agreed between the Ministry of Education and the agency.”
Sources also said Netanyahu would use his 6:30 pm press conference to announce that all classes will return to school within a week and allocate a specific budget to ensure compliance with coronavirus instructions, such as capsule learning.
But Haim Bibas, head of the Federation of Local Authorities in Israel, told city leaders on Sunday that schools would reopen only in “green” and “yellow” communities with relatively low levels of coronavirus infection.
“I am pleased to announce that the image of the alliance to fully reopen the education system in green and yellow communities will go up for the government’s vote on March 1 and is expected to pass,” Bibas said. to local leaders ahead of a cabinet meeting due to take place on Monday, where ministers were expected to allow levels 7-10 to be returned to classroom learning.
“The return of all students to schools in green and yellow authorities is an essential part of our mission to prioritize the lives of children in the education system,” he said.
“We will continue to work to get every student in every town back to school and make sure there is no one left,” Bibas said.
Israel has been emerging since its third national lockout since early February, with some schoolchildren already returning and businesses reopening.
Ach coronavirus czar Prof. Nachman Ash warned earlier Sunday that a further increase in the current number of R-climbing could jeopardize the next steps to circumvent restrictions, such as the return of children at levels 7-10 and cafes and restaurants reopen on March 7.