Just before the start of the school year, the family was informed: Ofri will not be able to return to school
Ofri Rafael from Moshav Nativ HaAsara studies in a special education class in Ashkelon and is defined as 100% nursing-dependent. According to her parents, although the council knew as early as July that she needed a personal aide, no solution was found by the start of the school year. Her father stated: 'She needs company. She cried when she heard she might not go to school.' The council responded that it is making enormous efforts to find a suitable educational aide.
For most children, the start of the school year is almost taken for granted. For 11.5-year-old Ofri Rafael from Nativ HaAsara, even the possibility of getting to school is not a given. Ofri, who suffers from quadriplegic cerebral palsy affecting all four limbs, studies in a special education class at the 'Ir HaYayin' school in Ashkelon. She is defined as 100% nursing-dependent and requires constant accompaniment by an adult throughout her time at school.
However, two days before the start of the school year, the Rafael family discovered that Ofri had not been assigned a personal aide. According to the family, the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council, which is responsible for the assignment, knew about the need as early as the beginning of July but did not act. Furthermore, the family was initially told that there was no transportation for Ofri. A solution for transportation was found only on the morning of September 1st, and after the parents acted on their own, a temporary solution for accompaniment was found through a substitute aide who agreed to take a few days off from her work.
'Ofri started the school year in a flawed way,' said her father, Boaz Rafael. 'She is recognized by the National Insurance Institute and the council, and is integrated into a special education class. She received an exceptional permit from the Ministry of Education to be accompanied by a personal aide. She must have constant accompaniment by an adult and cannot be left alone for even a second.' Ofri, a member of 'Beit HaGalgalim', has faced similar situations in previous years. Her father notes that after October 7th, they had to intervene at high levels to secure support.
'The council has been aware of this situation since July 1st. It didn't fall on them as a surprise. It is very sad and it happens every year,' Boaz emphasizes. The family feels that the council prioritizes aides for its own schools, leaving Ofri, who studies in Ashkelon, at the bottom of the list. 'She asks: "Why don't I deserve it?" That is the hardest thing. The council receives the budget for this, and they don't deny it is their responsibility, they just say they can't find anyone.'
The situation also takes a toll on the parents; Ofri's mother, Dana, is unable to return to her work as a veterinary clinic manager while the issue remains unresolved.
The Hof Ashkelon Regional Council responded:
'The council management and the education administration are aware of the case and are working continuously to provide a suitable response for the student, in accordance with her special needs. This is a position that requires unique matching and significant commitment. Despite enormous efforts and inquiries to a number of candidates, the professionals have not yet managed to locate a personal educational aide. We continue to work hard to enable the student to return to a full school routine as soon as possible. For reasons of privacy, we will not address further details beyond what is stated here.'
