As Shas MKs attempt to accustom themselves to life in parliamentary opposition, things for the party appear to be getting worse. The once smiling trio that led the party has been dissolved and Aryeh Deri now stands at the helm, with former leader Eli Yishai treading water. He is looking to salvage his political career, hoping to land a spot in the Jerusalem mayoral race, but this does not appear too promising.

The Finance Ministry auditor has completed a comprehensive report that focusing on Shas’ Mayan HaChinuch education network. The report is not a favorable one to put it mildly, citing fictitious employees, retroactive payments to employees for months they did not work, theft of funding hours allocated to assist autistic children and more.

The report was compiled during recent months by the accounting firm Hogan, Ginsburg, Yudlowitz & Partners at the behest of the treasury accounting department.

The report speaks of schools that were funded despite not having a license. There was even a closure order pending against two of the schools funded; בית ספר חסד ורחמים in Beit Shean, which was ordered shut down due to serious safety issues. The second is the הליכות ביתה School, ordered closed due to electrical system issues that posed a serious danger. The report states no less than 100 million NIS was allocated to schools operating without a license.

The report documents that fictitious employees were paid salaries, including a husband of an employee of the system’s payroll office, listed as a substitute teacher in the אור וערכים School. He was paid 70,000 NIS but never worked in the system. There is also documentation of others receiving a salary despite never having worked in the system, including a grandchild of Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita.

Many teachers received additional payments under the guise of clothing allowances and travel expenses. The report documents a minimum of 1,604 employees (802 couples) are related to current or former employees of the system, citing the education network serves as an employment agency for relatives and associates of the Shas cronies. In one case, a relative of a school principal was hired as a teaching supervisor despite having absolutely no experience in teaching. In July and August 2012 at least 21 employees received payment differential for one of the summer months, amounting to 20,000 NIS. A million NIS was distributed to employees in this fashion with the overwhelming majority receiving remuneration for months they didn’t work.

The comprehensive report cites abnormalities regarding severance pay to former employees. For example, one seminary principal was given 9,000 NIS in severance pay but she did not stop working. There are 45 additional examples of severance pay to employees still on the payroll.

Hours were shifted and cut in total disregard of regulations, at times resulting in special needs students losing hours of instruction. This includes students diagnosed with autism, different special education needs and so-forth.

The Shas education network is classified as “recognized” but not a part of the state system, but it does receive funding on the condition the schools comply with Education Ministry directives. The system was established in the 1980s, when Shas was firmly set in the government. The Mayan Chinuch system grew in popularity rapidly as unlike state public schools, it offered a full day of class and hot lunches, particularly attractive to working mothers and lower income families. The system in 5753 registered over 30,000 students in 173 schools around the country. In 2012, Mayan HaChinuch received 558 million NIS from the national government and its various agencies. At the end of 2012, the education network reported a 140 million NIS deficit, which was covered by the state budget, the report adds.

The report refers to a period during which Mayan Chinuch was under the leadership of Yoav Ben-Tzur, who was recently replaced by Mordechai Mordecai.

The Hiddush organization, which has been waging a war against chareidi educational mosdos is calling on the state to act, citing Mayan Chinuch schools under the guise of providing core subject education and encouraging service in the IDF is taking state funds but in actuality, it is dodging both the education and military service.

The report continues, citing the system reported on schools that are not part of the system just to receive additional funding. The school would gain a budget and Mayan Chinuch received its cut. This accounts for a most significant portion of the Shas network budget, for schools that are not part of the system while be reported as being tied to it.

The report continues, citing efforts by officials to interfere in the probe and cover their actions.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)