Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Education Minister Gideon Saar on Sunday evening, the eve of 9 Elul 5772 visited the Education Ministry situation room and observed the Ministry’s preparations ahead of the 2012-2013 school year, which opened on Monday.

During the visit, Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke with siblings Yonatan, Rachel and David Gvili from Or Akiva, all entering first grade this year and wished them good luck and a productive year.

Earlier, Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke with Moshe Holtzberg, whose parents were murdered in the November 2008 terrorist attack on the Chabad House in Mumbai.  Moshe, who is now living in Israel with his grandparents, Shimon and Yehudit, started first grade. The Prime Minister wished him well and said that the prayers of the entire Jewish people are with him.

During the visit, Prime Minister Netanyahu said, “There is much good news for parents regarding the school year that starts tomorrow: It is starting without strikes. It is offsetting several days of the summer vacation. There is much good news regarding payments: Free education from age 3 – a savings of 800 NIS for every child, subsidized school trips and a significant reduction in text book fees. Our Government is investing great sums in education, for a better future. I would like to wish pupils, parents, teachers and all education staff a successful and productive year.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)