While the new school year has begun, for 200 students in the third grade in Bayit Vegan’s Beis Yaakov, summer vacation has not ended because they do not have classrooms. The community blames Jerusalem City Hall for failing to prepare for the school year.

Mishpacha reports that parents knew when vacation started they were short four classrooms because first grade was expanded to accommodate the growing number of students. City officials were aware of the situation and promised to address the situation in time for the new school year, but this did not occur. The great solution arrived just days before the start of the school year, caravan homes that are not suitable for the students.

Making things worse, the caravans were placed too far from the school building. Parents are quoted as adding that in addition, they received empty buildings, buildings without tables or chairs or any other basic equipment.

The city was determined and it came up with another unique solution, bringing a large tent a day before school. Nylon partitions served to separate the classrooms inside. Needless to say, parents were not thrilled with this attempt any more than the old rundown caravans. Parents questioned the wisdom of trying to put four classes of 42 students into a sweltering hot tent – a non-starter.

Realizing they must act, parents declared a strike and kept the children home. Teachers arrived and sat in the teacher’s room for three hours and left.

City Hall promises to have the caravans refurbished by Rosh Hashanah. Parents are angry over the lack of organization, the waste of 15,000 NIS on the tent, money that could have been used for a suitable solution, and the fact that their children will not have class until after Rosh Hashanah.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)