150 polling stations, not waiting until age 18: The youth demanding change in education

Thousands of members of the HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed youth movement voted at 150 polling stations across the country and chose four central issues for education: combating bullying and violence, improving teacher status, equal opportunity, and adapting the education system to a changing world. The results will be formulated into a 'Youth Education Charter' to be presented at a conference on October 22.

Thousands of members of the HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed youth movement participated yesterday (Tuesday) in a nationwide initiative called 'Who's Asking You?', voting at 150 polling stations set up in branches across the country. Although many of them are not eligible to vote in Knesset elections, they seek to influence the election agenda and place public education at its center. The voting results highlighted four main issues: combating bullying and violence in schools, improving teacher status (including salary and employment conditions), equal opportunity in education, and adapting the education system to a changing world. Based on these topics, a 'Youth Education Charter' will be formulated and distributed for signature among students, parents, educators, school principals, local authority heads, and public figures. The initiative will culminate on October 22 at the 'Youth Chooses Education' conference at Beit HaPalmach in Tel Aviv. The movement's secretaries-general, Ofir Halba and Nitzan Roznocks-Ziv, called on political parties to address the demands and commit to placing public education at the top of the agenda.