Israel’s New School Year Begins With 16,000 Displaced Students Returning to Classrooms
As the summer draws to a close, the usual excitement of a new school year is tainted by anxiety and uncertainty for many Israelis, especially those displaced by the war and the families of soldiers
Miri Menashe is a mother of three teenagers from Metula, who, along with her children, was evacuated from her house on October 8, 2023. In addition to living her life as an evacuee, her husband has been serving in the IDF reserves since the beginning of the war. “Since my husband was called up, I’ve dealt with a lot on my own, handling situations that we used to manage together.”
Sometimes, I struggle to be emotionally present for them, especially when I’m breaking down. Thank God, in those moments, I have managed to find some light. As we were evacuated, we had a group of friends who were always there for each other, especially on an emotional level. It was easier to share with people in the same situation because who else could truly understand our real struggles?
Now, as summer vacation is about to end, Miri faces the prospect of having her kids back at school but still far from the routine they used to have. “Sometimes, I struggle to be emotionally present for them, especially when I’m breaking down,” she told The Media Line. “Thank God, in those moments, I have managed to find some light. As we were evacuated, we had a group of friends who were always there for each other, especially on an emotional level. It was easier to share with people in the same situation because who else could truly understand our real struggles?”
Miri is a member of The Metamaranot, a group of women whose partners are currently serving in the military reserves. This group aims to give voice to the struggle of the homefront by making the invisible voices of the reservists’ partners heard.
Despite the hardship of having her husband less present, Miri overcame it, had a great summer break, and is now preparing for the new school. “Last year, the children had to start school three times! So, now there’s hope that this school year will be continuous without as many disruptions. Yes, it’s very hard not having another adult by your side in your daily life, especially the one you love with all your heart, but it’s comforting to know that you’re surrounded by warmth from those around you.”
Sara Ribner-Grabin, from Kibbutz Kfar Etzion, has three daughters, ages eight, six, and one. She spends most of her energy trying to maintain a schedule and giving her daughters the feeling that while their dad isn’t home, they’re all doing okay and are proud of him. “We miss him, but we’re doing ok,” she told The Media Line. “That includes going to school on time, eating home-cooked meals, going to sleep on time, etc. The girls were mostly ok, and the big girls seemed to understand that something big was happening and needed to help where they could. Their dad is back home after 215 days of service, but they know that he can be called up again at any given moment.”
As Israel embarks on the 2024-2025 school year, the education system is gearing up to accommodate over 2.5 million students nationwide. This includes 535,000 kindergarteners, 514,000 high schoolers, 335,000 middle schoolers, and 1,174,000 in elementary schools. The education workforce is robust, with 236,000 staff members, 5,754 principals and over 200,000 teachers.
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This year, 179,300 children will begin first grade, while 144,000 students enter their final year of high school. Additionally, 354,000 students receive special education, while 180,000 are identified as gifted and talented, and 526,000 and 530,000 students are enrolled in the ultra-Orthodox and Arab education systems, respectively. With 22,000 kindergartens, 5,754 schools, and 5,533 supervised daycare centers, the country’s education system operates on a budget of 83.6 billion NIS ($22.9 billion) for 2024.
Elad is one of hundreds of thousands of school teachers in Israel. Teaching physical education at two schools in the country’s center, Elad told the Times of Israel: “I believe one of the main issues facing schools is the lack of skilled personnel. This uncertainty is evident when trying to start the school year, as there is often a shortage of teachers until the end of the summer break and sometimes even into the school year.”
In my opinion, the role of a teacher is not sufficiently financially rewarding compared to the investment it requires. For example, when I was on reserve duty, in some cases, they had to start the school day for that class later because there was no one to substitute.
Continued Elad: “In my opinion, the role of a teacher is not sufficiently financially rewarding compared to the investment it requires. For example, when I was on reserve duty, in some cases, they had to start the school day for that class later because there was no one to substitute.”
On top of the insufficient personnel, this year, the schools also have to adapt to the difficult moments for many of the kids and their families while also ensuring that security drills are updated and trained. “There’s an understanding that there is unrest due to the situation, so the school and the administration are trying to create a more home-like and community atmosphere, ensuring a listening ear can help,” Elad explained. “The second focus is on safety; unlike previous years, this year, on the very first day of school, there will be a drill for missile defense and moving into shelters,” he added.
According to Israel’s Ministry of Education Foreign Press Secretary, Anati Manshury, the ministry is fully aware of the unique challenges faced by schools and students and has implemented a series of measures to support Israel’s youth, parents, and educational staff as they return to school.
Since the outbreak of the war, professionals from the Psychological Counseling Service have been providing emotional and therapeutic support to students, parents, and staff dealing with the disaster and the mass trauma. Additionally, since Saturday, October 7, an emotional support hotline has been opened, staffed by expert counselors from the Psychological Counseling Service, including specialists in special education and speakers of various languages. The service is available to students, parents, and educators 24/7.
“Since the outbreak of the war, professionals from the Psychological Counseling Service have been providing emotional and therapeutic support to students, parents, and staff dealing with the disaster and the mass trauma,” Manshury told The Media Line. “Additionally, since Saturday, October 7, an emotional support hotline has been opened, staffed by expert counselors from the Psychological Counseling Service, including specialists in special education and speakers of various languages. The service is available to students, parents, and educators 24/7.”
Manshury outlined the extensive efforts to ensure that children can resume their education despite the ongoing conflict. Multiple new projects were created for students from areas impacted by the war, including grants of up to NIS 30,000 (around US$8,231) for educational staff and educational psychologists in the Tekuma region, which comprises Chof Ashkelon, Sha’ar HaNegev, Sdot Negev, Eshkol, and Sderot.
The grants are meant to bolster educational teams to address the preexisting pedagogical, social, and emotional challenges of the students in the Tekuma region. They also aim to manage the extraordinary issues arising from the war and the consequences of the prolonged absence of many kids from their homes.
In northern Israel, the Ministry of Education built a Situation Room to monitor the area’s schools’ security situation continuously. Set to start operations on August 31 in Nof Galil, the room’s creation shows how big the security challenges are in the North and the complex reality faced by students and teaching staff there.
Another initiative provides special support to approximately 1,000 students from the families of hostages and 1,016 students whose relatives were murdered or killed. The Ministry of Education offers educational, emotional, and social assistance as needed. Additionally, the ministry will provide additional educational counseling hours to assist educators during these difficult times.
As Israel embarks on the 2024-2025 school year, the country faces an unprecedented challenge: ensuring that over 2.5 million students return to school amid the lingering effects of war and trauma.
