Deputy Minister, Veto Power and Millions: The Demands of the State-Religious Education

The religious education networks demand that extensive powers and permanent budgets for religious studies be anchored in the coalition agreements, including the appointment of a deputy minister and veto power for the head of the State-Religious Education Administration. The State Education Watch warns of deepening gaps.

The religious education networks, Noam Tzvia and Bnei Akiva, demand that extensive powers and permanent budgets for religious studies be anchored in the upcoming coalition agreements. A document titled "Plan to Strengthen State-Religious Education in Israel," first published by TheMarker, includes a demand for the appointment of a dedicated deputy minister of education for the State-Religious Education Administration, granting veto power to the head of the administration over curricula and educational policy, and incorporating religious studies budgets into the Ministry of Education's base budget. Also demanded are an addition of two weekly hours for prayer and religious studies, an annual allocation of 6,000 hours for Torah reinforcement, and 500 additional national service positions. In response, Itamar Kramer, head of the State Education Watch, criticized and claimed that a student in the State-Religious Education Administration is budgeted about 10,000 NIS more than a student in state education, and demanded an upward equalization of conditions.