The Education Ministry was operating its situation room on Tuesday morning, the first day of the 5774 school year. According to ministry officials, 2,130,000 students returned to the nation’s schools on 21 Elul 5773. Officials report 400,000 of the children are in kindergarten settings and 1.7 million in the school system.

Ministry Director-General Dalit Stauber lauded the opening day, which is not accompanied by closures or strikes, as was the case too often in the past. She added that over 4,500 school nationwide open their doors on Tuesday along with over 13,500 kindergartens.

Some other stats include; there are 148,774 children beginning first grade, 168,471 teachers in schools and kindergartens, 3,832 new teachers, and 350 new principals.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)