A battle to permit agencies others than the official ones granted the tender for high school trips to Poland has succeeded.

Education Ministry officials have agreed to permit schools to use other agencies to arrange trips for high schoolers traveling to the death camps in a move to sharply reduce costs. Leaders of the battle stated that once the companies awarded the tenders began operating about six months ago, the cost per pupil in some cases reached NIS 6,463, an increase of NIS 1,500-2,000.

Sadly, as part of the agreement towards lowering costs, schools will no longer be compelled to serve students kosher meals since ministry officials agree providing kosher will only increase costs. Only those requesting kosher food will receive it while others may serve the students traif.

Ministry officials’ stress that all companies organizing trips to Poland will have to register and comply with all security demands for any trip to be approved.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)