National religious schools strike due to cutbacks

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Post-elementary schools in the national religious sector went on strike on Sunday for the first time since they were established, Army Radio reported. Teachers were protesting the cumulative budget cuts of over NIS 100 million within four months, which they said were forcing them to keep some 90,000 students from coming to school. Earlier this month, the national religious schools threatened to strike after the Hanukka vacation if the government did not increase their budget. In the past, the schools received funding from both the Education and Finance ministries; however, after the Religious Affairs Ministry was shut down, the Finance Ministry transferred the funds to the Education Ministry, which distributed them to other schools.