Students in Ashkelon
Photo: Tsafrir Avyov
Back to school in south
After most southern communities suffer long weeks of rocket attacks, all students in south will return to classroom Tuesday, according to Ministry of Education. First half of day will be dedicated to airing sentiments following Gaza offensive. Institutions of higher education also to reopen
Quiet in the south has been maintained one day after a ceasefire was declared by Israel and Hamas and classes will resume on Tuesday in the towns that have suffered through constant rocket attacks for the past three weeks. Institutions of higher education in the south will also reopen.
Education Ministry Chairperson Shlomit Amichai instructed school principles in southern towns to dedicate the first part of the school day on Tuesday to discussing the students' feelings and sentiments following Operation Cast Lead. Psychologists and educational counselors have been invited to classrooms to hold discussions with the students.
Students showing intense symptoms of anxiety will receive one-on-one emotional help.
Teachers were instructed to receive students back to class with festive signs, personal greeting cards, and flowers in order to show support and encouragement to the students.
The Ministry of Education has developed an education program for 11th and 12th graders meant to prepare them to return to the routine of studying, and to give them tools to maintain control and balance throughout the school day. In addition, the program "Youth in the Center" will resume its activities, including day and evening extra-curricular programs encouraging community involvement among the youth of the south.
11th and 12th graders already back
Monday morning 11th and 12th graders in Sderot returned to the classroom for a regular school day. Beersheba also reported that students had classes had started their gradual resumption on Monday, including matriculation classes, special education classes and some day care centers.
Ashkelon Mayor Benny Vaknin ordered that only 11th and 12th graders would return Monday to the normal school routine. Classes were held in shelters and fortified areas. Vaknin has decided that Tuesday only 11th and 12th graders will return to school, despite orders from the Home Front Command.
All grades will resume classes as per normal routine in the rest of the southern towns.
