The Supervision Bluff: Only 8% of Haredi Institutions Employ Teachers Qualified to Teach Core Studies

The Attorney General's response to the High Court reveals that only 8% of Haredi institutions employ qualified teachers for core studies. In 87% of grades 7-8, there is no qualified science teacher, 76% lack qualified English teachers, and 79% lack qualified math teachers. The state budgets billions of shekels to Haredi networks despite non-compliance, and will condition future funding on meeting basic obligations.

The response of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to the High Court, filed last Friday, exposes serious deficiencies in the supervision of core studies in Haredi institutions. The data shows that only 8% of institutions in the two networks meet the training requirements set in the Director General's circulars. In 87% of grades 7-8, there is no qualified science teacher, 76% lack qualified English teachers, and 79% lack qualified math teachers. The state budgets billions of shekels to the Haredi networks, even though they do not teach full core studies. In her response, the Attorney General states that continued funding will be conditioned on meeting basic obligations, including full core studies and employing qualified teaching staff, and that these requirements will apply already in the current school year. The response was filed in the context of a petition by the Hiddush movement against transferring 'Ofek Hadash' and 'Gafen' funds to the networks, a coalition addition of about one billion shekels per year. The court issued an interim order freezing the transfer of funds. In response, MK Vladimir Beliak called the system 'rotten and corrupt,' while MK Moshe Gafni attacked the Attorney General for her intervention.