(haipo) Parents of students at Dror Elementary School in the Kiryat Eliezer neighborhood of Haifa were horrified to discover that the ceiling of the school's sports hall is, they claim, in a dangerous condition that raises real concerns about collapse. The parents are demanding that the Haifa Municipality take immediate action to repair the defects and are expressing deep concern for the safety of their children. They say this is a serious safety hazard that makes it impossible to continue operating as usual at the school.
The Dror School is an old school, and in recent years there have been a variety of complaints from parents regarding the state of maintenance of the school. Over the years, the municipality has stepped up and renovated what needed to be renovated, mainly during the summer months. According to the parents, the ceiling of the school hall has been changed, as it endangers the safety of the children.
Parents were amazed during a visit to the school ◄ Watch
According to the parents, they arrived at the school a few days ago as part of the Teacher's Day events. Some of them entered the gym, looked up at the ceiling and were amazed. According to them, the ceiling appeared cracked, peeling, and in a state indicating the risk of collapse. "We couldn't believe what we were seeing," they said. "It looked like something was going to fall any minute."
Yesterday, Sunday, 05/17/2026, a meeting of the parents' committee of all the classes was held with the school administration. The shocked parents asked the school principal how the condition of the ceiling could be so serious, and why nothing was done to repair it. According to them, the principal replied that she had contacted the municipality more than a year ago with a request to repair the ceiling, but had not yet received a prompt response. She added that due to the obvious danger, the students do not practice in the hall at all, and sports classes are held outside.
Parents: “We feel like second-class residents in Haifa”
The parents decided to contact the municipality and demand immediate treatment. “We feel like we are second-class residents in Haifa,” they said. “If this had happened in a school in Carmel or in an estate, no one would dare leave the ceiling in such a state.”
They say they have full confidence in the municipality and the school administration, but in this case they feel the system has failed. “Our children deserve a safe school,” they said. “No parent in the city would accept a situation where you look up and see a ceiling that could collapse. The safety of the children comes first.”
The schools in Kiryat Eliezer: An old neighborhood, old buildings and recurring parental struggles
Kiryat Eliezer is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Haifa, and many of the schools there were built decades ago. Some of the buildings suffer from natural wear and tear, poor maintenance, and a lack of comprehensive renovations. In recent years, several complaints have been raised by parents in the neighborhood about the physical condition of the educational institutions, including waterproofing problems, peeling ceilings, neglected courtyards, and old facilities.
The struggle of the Dror School parents joins a series of parental struggles in Haifa, in which parents demanded rapid treatment of safety deficiencies. In recent years, the city has seen protests over the condition of schools in Hadar, Kiryat Sprinzak, Neve David and other neighborhoods. The parents claim that the gaps between the neighborhoods are noticeable, and that schools in strong neighborhoods receive faster treatment and more frequent renovations. They claim that the situation in Dror is another example of the ongoing neglect of educational institutions in older neighborhoods.
“We were shocked – it seemed dangerous on an immediate level”
Parents who documented the ceiling say the sight was particularly disturbing. “It’s not a small crack or peeling paint. You can really see parts of the ceiling that aren’t connected properly,” said one. “It looks like a ceiling that has been neglected for years. We’re not engineers, but you just have to look to understand that there’s danger here.”
According to them, the fact that students have not entered the hall for months indicates the seriousness of the situation. “If the principal herself is afraid to let students in there, that says it all.”
Many parents expressed frustration that the principal had repeatedly contacted the municipality, but to no avail. “This is not a matter of convenience,” they said. “This is a matter of safety. How can it be that for a whole year, no budget has been found to repair a dangerous ceiling?” They added that they appreciate the school administration’s efforts, but expect the municipality to take responsibility. “The municipality is the one that should be taking care of the maintenance of the buildings. It is not the principal’s job to chase officials.”
“Our children should not learn in fear”
Parents say the children themselves are aware that the gym is closed. “They ask why they can’t go in there,” said the mother of a fifth-grade student. “We don’t want them to grow up feeling like their school is unsafe.” She says outdoor gym classes are not a long-term solution. “It’s too hot in the summer, too rainy in the winter. It doesn’t make sense for an entire school to be left without a gym because of an unrepaired ceiling.”
Demand for immediate action: “We will not wait for disaster”
The parents emphasize that they are not willing to wait. “We demand immediate repairs,” they said. “We will not wait for a disaster to happen. We expect the municipality to act now.”
They are considering further steps, including contacting the city auditor, contacting the Ministry of Education and even a public protest. “We will not give up,” they said. “Our children are worth it.”
“It’s not a luxury – it’s a basic obligation”
Parents emphasize that maintaining educational buildings is not a matter of choice. “It’s not a luxury project,” said one. “It’s a basic necessity. A safe ceiling is not a luxury.”
He said the parents are not asking for a lavish renovation or an extraordinary investment. “We only ask for one thing: that our children be safe.”
Municipality: The issue is known and being handled by professional authorities
The municipality responded by saying that the issue is known and being handled by the municipality's professional bodies. "Renovation of the ceiling of the sports hall at the Dror School is included in the work plan for implementation as part of the upcoming summer renovations. Until the work is carried out, safety guidelines are in place in accordance with the assessment of the professional bodies."
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It is not possible to install a mineral ceiling in a sports hall where ball games are played. A prominent sign at the entrance to the hall and on your website should indicate who the genius designer was who designed it.
Shocking, criminal neglect.. life-threatening
A ceiling like this is dangerous, and not just in a sports hall. You can see that the boards have been moved from their place by bullets. A board like this that falls on the head or neck of a small child can cause serious injury.