In the shadow of the "Iron Swords" war and the great sacrifice of the reserve soldiers and their families, the state is committed to supporting students serving in the reserves in order to ensure that they continue their academic course without harm. Today, a special adjustment outline was published for the 2015 academic year, the purpose of which is to give students serving in the reserves the tools necessary to complete their studies while maintaining their commitment to military service.
The outline was drawn up in full cooperation between central parties in the higher education system, the IDF, and the students themselves, including the Minister of Education and the Chairman of the National Military Council Yoav Kish, Chief Reserve Officer (KMLR) in the IDF Benny Ben Ari, Chairman of Hoth A. Prof. Yossi Makori, IDF Manpower Division, Chairman and R.A. Prof. Daniel Chaimovitz, Chairman and R.A. Prof. Yifat Biton and Chairman of the National Association of Male and Female Students Elhanan Fellheimer. The outline is largely based on the adaptations of The year of the academic year, but this year the observation is at the semester level and not throughout the entire school year.
Minister of Education, Yoav Kish:
I am very proud of the new outline that we led today for the benefit of the Milomenics. This is an outline that does justice to students who left and are leaving everything for the sake of society and the country. They deserve to be recognized, they deserve to be appreciated and they deserve to be protected from any harm, and this is how we will do it. This is not the end of the verse, there is much more to be done, but this is an essential, necessary and additional step to preserve the best of our sons and daughters. Many thanks to the reservists, to military men and strength to all our partners for this important move!
The main adjustments for students serving in the reserves:
- Flexibility in the schedule: Students who were absent due to reserve service will be given extensions in the deadlines for submitting papers and exams, with the possibility of completing the study material in an adapted and measured way.
- Adjustments in the study load: students who have served extended periods will be able to get an exemption from some courses or convert grades to a "passing" grade. Also, there will be a reduction in the course load and academic requirements.
- Special support for injured students: Students who were injured during their service will receive additional adjustments, such as extending the study period and taking into account their health condition to ensure a safe and efficient return to the learning cycle.
- Extension of studies at no additional cost: students whose reserve service has extended the duration of their studies will not be charged an additional fee for the extension of the semesters.
Chief Reserve Officer, Brigadier General Bani Ben Ari:
We welcome the decision of the Ministry of Education, the Council for Higher Education and the heads of universities and colleges on the new adjustment outline. Many students continue - at the LMS - to report to reserve service in accordance with the operational need and perform the required tasks and immediately after that return to the classroom. Our goal is to help students as much as possible to finish the coming school year successfully at the same time as their multiple activities in the reserves.
The outline also refers to unique groups, such as students with small children, or those injured in their service, and provides them with personalized adjustments. The criteria for adjustments are determined according to the number of reserve days of the students during the semester and their family status.
The chairman of the National Union of Male and Female Students, Elhanan Fellheimer, said:
The current outline is a small step in the right direction, but it is far from enough. Students who serve in the reserves sacrifice not only their time, but also their bodies and souls for the country, and in return they receive adjustments that do not reflect the contribution. It is not possible for the State of Israel to send the students to the front and leave them behind in the academy. We will not give up until every student receives all the adjustments they deserve, without discounts, without compromises and without excuses.