Israel’s News Blog Magazine: Daily Stories Video and PhotosThe secondary school teachers strike here in Israel is now over a month old, and still no end seems in sight. The strike was originally called by members of the Secondary School Teachers Organization (SSTO) in mid October, and was later joined by lecturers in the country’s state run universities. Though the teachers have received a lot of sympathy from the general public, the length of the strike is now threatening the present academic year for thousands of high school students in grades 10 to 12 as well as undergraduate students at the universities.
The SSTO, headed by General Secretary Ran Erez, has been seen on TV meeting with government Finance Ministry officials, as well as Education Minister Yuli Tamir (photos). The constant negotiation sessions, in which an almost jovial mood has been portrayed to television viewers has certainly not been ‘jovial’ to the students, or to their parents, many of whom gather daily with disgruntled students in front of the Knesset with signs and whistles to bring the situation’s attention not only to the generals public but to the world at large. No doubt, the teachers have a lot of issues to negotiate, including crappy salaries (NS. 3,500 for a beginning teacher and only about NS 5,500 for a veteran one with an MA degree) crowded classrooms of upwards from 40 students, and a lack of adequate equipment in the schools, especially computers and the like.
Many students, especially the more serious ones who are concerned with their matriculation studies, have even taken matters into their own hands and are studying either with private teachers or alone in study groups. Many parents are blaming an increase in alcohol and drug abuse by teenagers, as well as violence in discothèques and other public places as a result of the their children being out a lot more at night during the strike, especially during the week.
The government seems unwilling to cut a final deal with the teachers and as a result many people are blaming the Kadima Party led government, especially Prime Minister Olmert, for not dong enough to bring the strike to an end. Education and other public services appear to come out on the short end when government budget considerations are made. And while teachers are supposed to have some dedication to their profession, that dedication doesn’t “cut the mustard” if teachers can’t earn a decent wage in a job which comes after years of study and preparation.
Even if the strike ends in the next few days, the 2007/08 school year is already trashed as students in the 11th and 12th grades, who would normally take matriculation exams in May and June, will now have these examinations delayed. This can really cause problems for those 12th graders who may be inducted into the military in either July or September due to reaching their 18th birthday during this time. Whether or not the IDF is sympathetic enough to grant these kids a deferment to allow them to finish their “bagruot” (matric’s ) exams is anybody’s guess.
Israel has enough of a problem in that the country’s level of education decreasing in an increasingly more competitive world. If Mr. Olmert and his cabinet cannot realize that education is one of the country’s most important assets, then the consequences of this strike will eventually affect us all.
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