Demand a designated place for the studies - the petition of the parents of the bilingual track
Parents of the students of the bilingual track come back and claim that the demand for enrollment is very high but it is not possible to accept additional students due to lack of space - in the Ministry of Education, on the other hand, they refuse to open a designated school due to an insufficient student quota - how will the absurdity be resolved?
After last month (12/4/22) the parents and children from the bilingual track demonstrated in the Haifa Municipality Square, so that it would be possible to win a building that would be a permanent home for their activities, and this after years of asking in every way and imploring the relevant authorities to help them with this, now they have decided that the next step He created a petition on which they signed thousands of people in the hope that great support from the city's residents would help them achieve their plight.
The parents from the bilingual track went to war, at the end of which they hope that there will finally be a school that can be a home for the students of the track. The Yad Yad community opened kindergartens years ago where Jewish and Arab children study in both languages. When the children finished compulsory kindergarten, they started studying in the first grade. At first they attended the school in the Kabbir neighborhood, but at some point there was not enough space in the Kabbir school and they were transferred to the Hufit school in the Shaar Aliya neighborhood.
In September 2022, the middle school of the bilingual track will open. The parents claim that there must be a dedicated school that will cater to all students. In addition, some classes are taught in more than one grade, so it is not possible for the XNUMXth grade in the bilingual track to be in a separate school from the elementary school.
the absurdity
According to the municipality, the matter was examined by the Ministry of Education, where they came to the conclusion that the quota of students in the bilingual track is not enough to receive an institution symbol. The parents, for their part, explain that the only reason why there is currently only one class in each grade is that they are not allowed to open a second class. The parents claim again and again that the demand for the track is great and there are many who wish to enroll their children in it, but due to a lack of space they cannot do so.
A true coexistence
The Yad Yad community lives and works in a space of practical coexistence. Each class is taught by two teachers, one who speaks Hebrew and the other who speaks Arabic. The children have been learning Arabic and Hebrew since kindergarten and the result is that the children speak both languages. In addition to this, the children celebrate the holidays of all religions and get to know the traditions, customs and culture of the other in addition to the one they usually know. Between the Arab and Jewish children close friendships and acquaintances are formed, as happens in every class, so also warm bonds are formed between the parents.
Since the days of the previous mayor
The community began contacting the municipality and asking for help in finding a place that would serve them as a permanent school, since the days of the previous mayor, Yona Yahav. The members of the community claimed that they needed a dedicated building, where the students would study, and in the meantime found themselves joining the school in the Kabbir neighborhood. According to them, it was suitable for the nature of the bilingual track. Later they were transferred to the Hofit school, when the beginning, as I remember, was not easy, because the parents at the Hofit school opposed the move. When the school building in Samet on Masada Bahadar Street was emptied and the students moved to study in Neve David, the parents hoped that they would be able to receive the building, but this did not happen.
There is support
For the past 3 years, Mayor Einat Kalish Rotem has expressed great support for the Yad Yad community. According to the parents, she usually attends the events they invite her to, and repeats that she supports their activities. At the same time, until now the community has not been able to obtain what it wanted, a building to be designated for the school.
When they set out, they set themselves a goal of 5,000 signatures in the community. Now they are already past the halfway point with about 3,000 signatures. They intend to continue until they reach the goal and hope with all their hearts that the public support in the city will affect the municipality and the Ministry of Education.
"The request was not approved because the school does not meet the criteria"
The Ministry of Education stated in response that "Yad Yad" school did not meet the criteria required to receive an institution symbol in terms of the size of the institution, therefore the request cannot be approved.
Need to find a school.