The supervision bluff: only 8% of Haredi institutions employ teachers qualified to teach core subjects

The response of the Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, submitted to the Supreme Court last Friday to the petition of the Hiddush association against the funding of Haredi educational institutions, points to a series of deficiencies in the way the state supervises core studies in these institutions. The response submitted by the Attorney General reveals that the state funds Haredi educational networks and schools with billions of shekels subject to a commitment to core studies, even though they are often not prepared to teach these studies at all.

For example, in 2024 there were Haredi institutions belonging to networks where there was not even one teacher qualified to teach a core subject. Out of these institutions, only 35 were found by the Ministry of Education to be teaching the core curriculum fully. Regarding English studies, it was noted that out of 521 institutions belonging to Haredi educational networks and schools, in 225 of them there is not even one teacher qualified to teach English — about 43% of all institutions. Furthermore, in 396 of the institutions there is not even one teacher qualified to teach English assigned to 7th and 8th grades, about 76% of all network institutions.

In the field of mathematics, out of 521 institutions belonging to the networks, in 413 there is not even one teacher qualified to teach mathematics assigned to 7th and 8th grades, about 79% of all network institutions. In the field of science, it was noted in the Attorney General's response to the Supreme Court that out of 521 institutions belonging to the networks, there are 458 institutions that do not have even one teacher qualified to teach science assigned to the relevant grades, 7th and 8th, meaning in about 87% of all network institutions.

The opinion determined that according to Ministry of Education data, only "8% of the institutions in the two networks were found to meet the training requirements set in the Director General's circulars". It was further written:

"In other words — a fundamental component of the duty to teach core studies 'to all children of Israel' — the education and training of teachers teaching core subjects — remains outside the supervision and enforcement mechanisms. This, despite the fact that the requirements are anchored in the same normative arrangement and together constitute the content of the duty. And simply put — it is unclear how it can be said that core hours are taught in a place where the teacher who needs to teach that hour is not qualified to teach them."

Likewise, it was determined that the Director General's circulars create an inherent link between the duty to teach core knowledge areas and the duty that this instruction be done by teachers with the education and training set for this. Where there are no teachers in an institution qualified to teach core subjects, it cannot be said that it meets the full duty to teach the core curriculum.

Therefore, the state determined that continued receipt of funding under the "all children of Israel" principle will be conditional on meeting the basic duties applicable to network institutions. Among them: full core studies as set in the official education core curriculum, employment of teaching staff with appropriate training, full participation in measurement and evaluation systems, cooperation with supervision and enforcement mechanisms, and compliance with reporting duties. These requirements will apply already in the current school year.

The response was submitted within the framework of a petition filed by the Hiddush movement against the transfer of "Ofek Hadash" and "Gafen" funds to the Independent Education and Ma'ayan Hinuch Torani networks — a coalition addition of about a billion shekels a year, which the government seeks to transfer to the networks even though they do not teach full core studies. The court has already issued an interim order freezing the transfer of funds.

MK Vladimir Beliak (Yesh Atid), opposition coordinator in the Finance Committee, said in response to the data presented: "Another proof that this is a rotten, corrupt system from the foundation that provides false reports, receives budgets contrary to the law, and robs students of the opportunity to receive a proper education. The solution is not to look for more 'compromises' with Deri and Gafni and promote 'Israbuff' moves, but to dismantle Haredi autonomy and strengthen state education, in all its streams."

Chairman of Degel HaTorah MK Moshe Gafni said in response to the opinion: "Who put Baharav-Miara to decide everything in the country according to her agenda? An elected government is not allowed to make decisions during an election period, the Knesset is limited in its ability to legislate, but a fired Attorney General is allowed to decide alone how Haredi education children will be educated and what they will learn? If she seeks to determine for Haredi education children what to learn, then I demand to the same extent that all children of Israel learn the 613 commandments, the tradition of Israel, Torah, Prophets, Writings and Gemara, and whoever does not learn all these, will not receive funding."