Parents of children in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Maalot Daphne are threatening to begin the new school year with a strike after the decision was made by the city to dissolve two kindergartens that have been serving the community for 15 years and to move the children to another neighborhood.

Angry parents explain they received confirmation of their children being registered as in past years and just recently they learned the decision was made to close the kindergartens and send the children to another community. They allege this decision was made during a closed meeting in a private home and not by the city via official channels.

They recently received notification that their kindergarten assignment was canceled and another notice would arrive with the new information. Many parents are still waiting despite opening day being Thursday, 28 Menachem Av while some children who have been together being split to different venues. What is clear is that with less than 24 hours remaining until the opening of the new school year, confusion reigns among the parents of this community.

Parents quoted by Kikar Shabbos News explain that they simply don’t understand how the city can unilaterally make such decisions and changes just days before the new school year begins. They insist the parents were kept in the dark and presented with a fait accompli.

There is also anger over the fact that there is already a shortage of kindergartens in the community and now some have been closed, allocated for use by persons outside the community, further exacerbating the situation.

Jerusalem City Hall did not respond at the time of this report.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)