Arab children may lose preschools
'Private' kindergartens fail to meet gov't regulations and may close but state isn't investing in alternative Arab, Bedouin buildings. MK Swaid: Arabs punished doubly
Almost 1,000 Arab and Bedouin children may soon face closed doors with some 300 preschools face closure as the Ministry of Education cracks down on groups operating in residential homes without the necessary permits.
Private children's preschools, those recognized by the Ministry of Education but which are unofficial, are gearing up to fight for their existence. These preschools are established in residential buildings but are organized like every preschool.
Up until now the education ministry was satisfied with a building permit, safety permit, health permit and pedagogical permit to allow preschools to operate. But now preschools situated in private homes are required to obtain a 'deviation permit' from the municipality's building and planning committee.
Without the permit the ministry will not recognize the preschools and deny them the NIS 600 (USD 142) they receive monthly for each child.
The preschools are largely run by parent organizations, which say the change of policy is trying to fail the opening of hundreds of preschools run by parents.
The parent organizations claim that the 'deviation permits' have no educational purpose but will only service the local municipalities which stand to gain funding from the permits.
The parents are asking the government to continue transferring funds to them until the matter is resolved, as they learned of the new permit requirement during the current school year.
No new schools
The Bedouin sector has long suffered from a shortage in preschools. Recent data compiled by the Shatil organization indicate that even though some 3,000 new Bedouin students are expected to join the education system annually, almost no new institutions have been built.
Education Minister Yuli Tamir (Labor) said she is aware of the problem. She addressed the Arab and Bedouin budget issue last week, saying that 59 years of neglect can not be solved in a few months. But without alternative government funded institutes, most of the children from the threatened preschools will have no place to go.
Bedouin parents have approached the ministry of education in recent days, asking for understanding as the community transitions from what they call a 'nomadic life to an established one'. They called on the government to grant them leniency as they go through what is an already difficult process.
Arabs punished doubly
MK Hanna Swaid (Hadash) says that the government is punishing Arab students twice over by neglecting to meet their needs in terms of building preschools and also refusing to accept preschools established in residential homes, effectively throwing thousands of children to the street.
The ministry of education said in response that part of receiving permission to operate a preschool is to meet all building and deviation permits. The ministry also said that the law is not a new one and that all those involved in the matter are bound by it.
