No school on Fridays, fewer vacations: The plans that could get stuck due to the political deadlock

The political impasse in forming a government threatens to freeze reforms in education: a shift to a five-day school week, reducing class sizes to 18 students, and decentralization of authority. The teachers' salary agreement is stalled due to the lack of permanent ministers, and the Haredi parties may oppose canceling school on Fridays.

The political deadlock in forming the government, after Gadi Eisenkot received the mandate from the president, threatens to freeze a series of major reforms in the education system. Among the plans that could get stuck: a shift to a five-day school week (Sunday through Thursday), reducing the number of students per class to 18, and transferring authority from the Ministry of Education to local municipalities as part of the 'Pinu'i Binui' program. The salary agreement with the Teachers' Union is about to expire, and negotiations have not yet begun due to the lack of permanent education and finance ministers. The Haredi parties may oppose canceling school on Fridays if they join the government. Reuven Taub, CEO of 'Aleinu HaNechadim HaMeyasdim', says that the bureaucracy will not make new salary agreements and will freeze the situation, and that the ability to convince the public is challenging when the main focus is on forming the government.