Minister of Education Gideon Saar today reversed last week's decision to shorten the summer vacation this year. The measure will come into effect next year. Just two days ago, the Ministry of Education said that it would not reverse the decision, but finally capitulated to public pressure.
Saar was apparently sanguine in the face of protests by school pupils and their parents who said that the announcement of the shorter summer vacation was made with insufficient notice, and that they had already made their vacation plans and booked reservations.
Saar was apparently forced to retreat by Teachers Union chairman Yossi Wasserman, who informed the minister that vacation days are stipulated in the teachers' collective labor contract, and that any change in the contracts terms required the consent of all parties.
Saar decided to shorten the summer vacation at the recommendation of a public committee that examined the school year. It recommended starting the school year on August 26, instead of September 1, and to add five vacation days during holidays during the year.
The Ministry of Education is, however, apparently determined to institute the shorter summer vacation next year. Since last week's announcement Saar has been sounding more strident, "We must change things that have taken place for years and which are illogical… there is no minimal continuity of classes at the start of the year (because of Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot in September and October - S.N.) and we should have changed this a long time ago. Postponing the measure by a year is liable to jeopardize its implementation."
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