Last year, Minister of Religious Services (Shas) David Azoulai, who was just an opposition MK at the time, called on the State Comptroller’s Office to probe why Education Minister (Yesh Atid) Shai Piron’s summer camp program only earmark funding for summer camps for first and second graders for public school children, to the exclusion of the Shas-affiliated Mayan Chinuch network. Chareidi elected officials accused Piron of being “anti chareidi”.
The state comptroller rejected Azoulai’s allegations in the response that was just received. Azoulai today serves as Minister of Religious Services. According to the News1 report, the state comptroller feels that Piron’s decision is not discriminatory as alleged. It is explained the plan was implemented for state schools only and this does not represent discrimination but rather a program that is designated for the state’s education system and not the many other systems that exist in the various sectors.
The ombudsman nevertheless points “we cannot ignore the widespread social and economic ramifications of the widespread program and therefore it is the opinion of the ombudsman to listen to these voices and consider if there is a possibility of extending the plan to other sectors taking the totality of its purpose into consideration”.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
Aside from the issue of private vs. public schools, what struck me is the complaint by Shas was only that their schools weren’t funded.
It just highlights the age old perspective that each group only cares for their own and not all the kids. That’s sad. They should have complained that all Chareidi schools were excluded.