Israel to Resume Schooling in Phases After Passover Pending Security Review

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved the Education Ministry’s plan to gradually resume in-person schooling following the Passover holiday, according to an official statement.

The plan предусматривает a phased return to classroom learning while maintaining student safety and addressing both academic and emotional needs. Its implementation, scheduled for Sunday, remains subject to a final security assessment by the Home Front Command on the ערב of the holiday.

Capsule-Based Learning Expected

Details of the plan are expected to be published later, but officials indicate it will rely on a “capsule” model. Under this system, only some grades—or groups within grades—will attend school at any given time, alternating schedules based on decisions by local authorities and individual institutions.

Finance Ministry Opposes Distance Learning

The Ministry of Finance has taken a sharply different position, opposing the continuation of distance learning and recommending that schools remain closed for at least three more weeks if full in-person instruction is not possible.

Instead, the ministry proposes compensating for lost school days by extending the academic year into the summer months. According to its data, approximately 40% of schools in Israel lack adequate protective infrastructure, while only about 30% can effectively operate under a capsule model.

Economic and Educational Concerns

The Finance Ministry argues that remote learning has proven ineffective, citing low student participation and limited access to computers among many households. It also notes that distance learning prevents parents from returning to regular work routines.

Since the beginning of the war, roughly 20% of school days have been canceled—equivalent to more than a year and a half of regular schooling, according to ministry estimates.

Officials warn that each week under the current framework costs the economy approximately NIS 1.25 billion in lost GDP, with total monthly losses estimated at NIS 7–8 billion.

Alternative Proposals and Growing Tensions

Among the alternatives under consideration is a full return to in-person learning for kindergartens and grades 1–3, aimed at enabling parents of young children to return to work.

The Finance Ministry is also pushing for emergency legislation to allow changes to the school vacation calendar, effectively shifting summer vacation days to compensate for time lost during the war.

Teachers’ unions have strongly opposed the proposal. The Secretary General of the Teachers’ Union, Yaffe Ben-David, and the chairman of the Teachers’ Organization, Ran Erez, have rejected offers to extend the school year, even with compensation.

In response, the Finance Ministry has accused union leaders of acting against students’ interests and warned it may pursue legislation to override their objections during national emergencies.

Decision Expected After Holiday Assessment

The final decision on reopening schools will depend on the upcoming security assessment, as policymakers attempt to balance educational needs, economic pressures, and ongoing safety concerns.