Students who recently took their English bagrut (matriculation exam) may not know their marks in time for the ‘moed bet’ (makeup) exam. Teachers responsible for correcting and grading the exam are implementing sanctions, insisting they are unable to cope with the load.

The 250 English teachers who are paid to mark the exams insist they are not permitted to give the exams the proper time and attention, calling for improved conditions that allow marking the exams in the proper fashion. They claim that current realities may result in some students receiving unfair grades. The teachers are calling for the same conditions given to their colleagues responsible for marking the mathematics bagrut.

At present, they are permitted an average of 2-5 minutes per questionnaire while those teachers responsible for making math tests are only given 48 questionnaires a day, a fraction of the number given to English teachers.

The leaders of the strike action add that to date, the Ministry of Education has ignored them, leaving them with no other alternative. Ministry officials responding to the report state they are currently examining the demands.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)