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Protests outside school

Bennett announces Shevah Mofet high school to remain unchanged

After days of heated discussions and protests over Tel Aviv municipality's plans to restrict acceptance into school in south of city to make way for illegal migrant children, education minister steps in to set matters straight; 'School won't be closed, fundamental composition will be left unchanged.'

Shevah Mofet high school in Tel Aviv, which is currently the battleground of a political dispute between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai, will not be turned into a school for illegal migrants, it was announced Friday afternoon.

 

 

Education Minister Naftali Bennett (Bayit Yehudi) and Huldai reached an agreement after a heated first day of the school calendar at Shevah Mofet which kicked off with demonstrations against the intended changes, according to which the school—with 75% of its students coming from outside Tel Aviv—would stop accepting students residing outside the city. 

 

Protests outside Shevah Mofet (Photo: Avi Mualem)
Protests outside Shevah Mofet (Photo: Avi Mualem)

 

The intended change was designed make room for students who live in southern Tel Aviv—most of them children of asylum seekers and illegal migrants—to attend the school. “Shevah Mofet will not be closed. The school will continue to operate under the same composition of its current population,” Bennett announced early Friday afternoon.

 

The statement released by Bennett’s office, which hitherto refused to publicly address the matter, said, “Bennett maintains that in no circumstances will Shevah Mofet be closed or its fundamental character be changed.”

 

'Don't close a school with 100 percent graduation rates (Photo: Avi Muelam)
'Don't close a school with 100 percent graduation rates (Photo: Avi Muelam)

 

In addition to the decision not to meddle with the school’s demographic composition, Bennett and Huldai decided a professional team would be established combining the Education Ministry and the Tel Aviv municipality to remedy any outstanding problems.

 

During the demonstrations on Thursday against the intended move teachers cried slogans such as "You don't close a school with 100 percent graduation rates" while waving placards bearing the words: "We won't evacuate our home" and "Don't replace a winning team." The protest ended at 10am, allowing classes to begin.

 

One of the compromises reached involved moving the school to another site in which the students will be able to continue learning. Another option which may be considered is moving the school altogether to north Tel Aviv. Should the second option be implemented, it is likely that the current building will remain and be converted into a for children of migrant workers, refugees and asylum seekers living in south Tel Aviv. The name of the school, however, will likely be changed.

 


פרסום ראשון: 09.02.16, 14:14
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