High school students (illustration)
Photo: Dalit Shacham
IDF angry over student exercise exemption
Students being examined on day of nationwide home front exercise told they may ignore siren, continue with exams
IDF officials are furious after he Education Ministry has decided to exempt 500 schools from the "Turning Point 4" home front exercise because of nationwide exams.
The IDF has not responded officially, but military sources said the decision would undermine the exercise.
Angry parents contacted the Ministry and the Home Front Command, demanding that the exam date be changed. As things stand now, students will hear the oscillating wail of the siren as they try to concentrate on the exam.
The Home Front Command was surprised to hear about the date for the exam. Furthermore, students have been told to ignore the siren, not to participate in the exercise, and to complete the exam.
Military sources said Education Ministry Director General Shimshon Shoshani has gone against agreements and instead of changing the exam date, exempted students from participating in the nationawide drill. The Ministry issued a notice, saying, "The exams and matriculation exams will take place on the day of the exercise; therefore, anyone writing an exam is exempt from participating in the drill."
On Wednesday at 11:00 am the siren will be heard throughout the nation. All residents, including students, are required to go into a secured area and remain there for a few minutes.
The Education Ministry and the Home Front Command distributed instructions via educational institutions, including what should be done upon hearing the siren. Sources in the Ministry noted that "each year the entire education system practices coping with various scenarios such as earthquakes, terror attacks and missiles."
Yaheli Moran Zelikovich also contributed to this report
