Ministry of Finance Requests Significant Budget Transfers for Ultra-Orthodox and Religious Education

In a move that has raised eyebrows and sparked controversy, the Ministry of Finance has submitted a request to the finance committee for substantial budget transfers, totaling hundreds of millions of shekels. The funds are primarily intended to bolster ultra-Orthodox education and yeshivas, along with other religious initiatives.

The Ministry of Finance aims to allocate a significant portion of the requested funds by cutting NIS 155 million from the Ministry of Education's development budget. This budget is typically used to construct new classrooms and schools to address classroom overcrowding, mainly affecting state education schools in the country's central regions. Meanwhile, overcrowding in ultra-Orthodox and religious schools remains notably low, even as they receive substantial budget increases.

Additionally, the Ministry of Finance plans to cut around NIS 40 million from the Ministry of Education's transportation budget, which covers transportation for remote students, particularly in regional and peripheral councils, as well as special education students.

Education System Impacts

These budget transfers are expected to have far-reaching consequences within the education system. The move will put pressure on state education, particularly in central regions, where overcrowding is already a significant issue. On the contrary, ultra-Orthodox and religious education is set to benefit from substantial budget increases.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Finance demands an increase in the yeshiva budget by NIS 60 million, adding to a previous increase of NIS 150 million. The "Jewish Culture" budget is also set to receive a boost of NIS 95 million, allocated to various ultra-Orthodox and religious associations for cultural and religious projects.

Private Schools and Religious Streams

The Ministry of Finance's request includes NIS 30 million for independent private ultra-Orthodox schools and an additional NIS 45 million for private Arab schools. This represents a significant increase in private Arab education funding, possibly to avoid claims of favoritism towards private ultra-Orthodox education.

The budget of the education network associated with Torah Judaism is to be increased by NIS 40 million, building upon a prior increase of NIS 122 million. Similarly, the budget of the education network linked to Shas, the source of Torah education, is targeted for a NIS 4 million increase, following a recent boost of NIS 114 million.

Diverse Projects and Concerns

The Ministry of Finance's budget appeal aims to increase education budgets across all sectors, not just ultra-Orthodox or religious education. These funds would support various projects, including a computer initiative for community centers, programs during school vacations, and additional reinforcement hours.

However, the substantial budget transfers have raised concerns about transparency and oversight. Dr. Neri Horvitz, a former consultant to the Ministry of Education, expressed skepticism about the basis for these transfers, as well as the lack of parliamentary and budget department supervision. This development marks a significant shift in the budgetary landscape, with questions arising about the transparency and accountability of such large-scale transfers for ultra-Orthodox education.