Knesset petition calls for education minister's dismissal

Thirty-nine MKs demand that Olmert relieve Yuli Tamir of her duties due to ongoing strikes at schools, universities. 'Unfortunately, we have not seen the education minister display any leadership and involvement in order to resolve these crises,' petition says
Amnon Meranda

Thirty-nine Knesset members have signed a petition in recent days calling on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to dismiss Education Minister Yuli Tamir due to her handling of the educational crisis.

The petition was initiated by MKs Ronit Tirosh (Kadima) and Gideon Sa'ar (Likud) and signed by at least 12 members of the coalition.

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"In light of the month-and-a-half-long teachers' strike and the ongoing lecturers' strike at the universities and the severe harm caused to the education system, we the MKs call on the prime minister to relieve the education minister of her duties," the petition read.

"Unfortunately, we have not seen the education minister display any leadership and involvement in order to resolve these crises."

MK Tirosh, who served as Education Ministry director-general during Limor Livnat's tenure, told Ynet "we cannot ignore the fact that university and middle and high school students have not gone to class for the past month. Tamir's job is to make certain that schools are opened every day and that pupils come in and study. Since she has not succeeded in this task, she must allow another member of her faction to step in and do the job."

Tamir responded to the initiative by saying that "if only 40 MKs signed the petition, it means the remaining 80 support me. Ronit (Tirosh) cannot teach us what should be done in the education system after she served (in the Education Ministry) during the years it was destroyed.

"Her only concern is her pension – not the teachers," the minister said. "However, she is entitled to voice her opinion."