(haipo) Parents of children at the "Inbar" municipal kindergarten in Ramot Sapir have been warning for a year about serious safety deficiencies that are not being addressed, primarily an exterior door that does not lock due to a faulty lock. They claim that despite repeated appeals to the municipality, the situation remains the same and the kindergarten, where children aged 3-4 attend, is exposed to real risks. The parents note that in addition to the problem of the faulty gate, there are other faults, including tall grass adjacent to the kindergarten fence and a fire extinguishing system that does not work. According to them, this is an ongoing omission that endangers their children and harms their basic sense of security.
Following the live news website, the deficiencies that had not been addressed for months were fixed to the satisfaction of the parents.
A door that doesn't lock: "A whole year without a stable solution"
One of the mothers says that the outside door to the kindergarten has not been locked for a whole year. “I have contacted the municipality again and again,” she says. “They have all kinds of answers and explanations, but in reality the door is not locked. I can understand malfunctions that are not addressed immediately, but harming the safety of our children is not possible.”
According to her, the faulty lock means that the gate does not lock at all throughout the day. “This is a kindergarten for 3- and 4-year-olds. One moment of inattention is enough for a child to get out.” The parents say that professionals have come to the kindergarten several times to “fix” the gate, but the problem keeps coming back. “A large municipality like Haifa has been unable to replace a faulty gate for a year?” asks one of the mothers. “How come there has been no stable and reasonable solution to the situation for a whole year?”
Tall grass: “Risk of fires, mice and snakes”
In addition to the gate problem, parents are reporting tall weeds adjacent to the garden fence on the outside. “We’ve been calling 106 for two months,” says another mother. “We’re asking them to come and cut the weeds. They promise us that it’s being treated, and it’s not happening.”
The parents note that there have been many fires in Haifa in recent years, and that tall grass poses a real risk of fire spreading. “Wouldn’t it be better to remove unnecessary vegetation around the garden and avoid putting our children and Mason at risk?” asks the mother. “It’s not complicated to trim the grass there.” In addition, the parents report that mice and snakes have been seen in the area. “The grass is tall and very close to the fence,” says another mother. “The fence is not an obstacle for them. It’s dangerous.”
Improper fire extinguishing system: “Against the law”
One of the mothers points out that the fire extinguishing system at the kindergarten is not working. “The fire extinguishing system is not working, against the law of course,” she says. “This is a kindergarten. How could something like this happen?” According to her, this is a serious safety defect, which requires immediate attention. “We are not talking about cosmetics,” she adds. “This is a matter of life and death.”
Repeated inquiries – no response in the field
The parents say they contacted the municipality many times, but despite receiving answers, nothing has actually changed. “They got back to me from public inquiries a month ago and claimed that things were being handled,” says one of the mothers. “But on the ground, nothing has moved.”
She adds that other parents have also contacted the municipality, but to no avail. “It seems that the safety of the city’s kindergartens is of no interest to anyone in the municipality,” she says. “It’s sad and infuriating.”
Parents: “We feel like no one is taking responsibility”
The parents describe a deep sense of frustration. “I am appealing to the public and the mayor,” says one of the mothers. “It seems that no one in the municipality is taking responsibility for the treatment.”
She says parents aren't asking for anything extraordinary, just basic safety for their children. “We're not asking for a new park,” she says. “Just a gate that locks, grass trimmed, and a working fire suppression system.”
Safety standards in kindergartens in Israel: What should happen in practice?
Safety standards in kindergartens in Israel are clearly defined by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of the Interior, and they include a series of mandatory requirements designed to ensure the safety of children. Among the key standards are:
- Locked and secure entrance gate: It is mandatory for every kindergarten to include a fully lockable gate, with a proper opening mechanism that allows control over the entry of visitors and prevents children from leaving independently.
- Proper fire extinguishing system: Every kindergarten must include proper fire extinguishers, a fire detection system in required locations, and periodic inspections according to law.
- Maintenance of outdoor areas: Tall grass, untreated vegetation, and environmental hazards pose a safety hazard and require immediate treatment by the local authority.
- Ongoing control by the local authorityThe municipality is obligated to conduct periodic inspections of kindergartens and ensure that all standards are met in practice.
- Quick response to inquiries from parents and staffSafety standards require quick handling of defects, especially when there is an immediate risk.
The gap between the standards and the reality at the "Inbar" kindergarten, as described by the parents, emphasizes the need for closer monitoring and immediate treatment of deficiencies.
Municipality: The deficiencies have been corrected
The municipality responded by saying that the entrance gate to Inbar Garden was repaired and renewed during the summer vacation. An inspection conducted at the garden yesterday found the gate to be in good condition.
Pruning work is being carried out throughout the city and at all educational institutions, and as part of this, the Inbar Garden was also treated yesterday (Monday).