Parents complain about long-day kindergartens

At least one center did not open its afternoon-care facilities this school year because too few parents signed up for it.

By MIRIAM BULWAR DAVID-HAY
Hod Hasharon parents are concerned about the standards of the afternoon care at the city's long-day kindergartens, reports www.local.co.il. They are complaining that the 16 kindergartens that offer afternoon care ("tzaharonim") lack qualified staff and adequate equipment, do not provide interesting activities for the children, and do not supply high-quality food. According to the report, parents have made numerous complaints about the standards of the afternoon care at the city's long-day kindergartens, and some parents have removed their children as a result. Some have reportedly chosen to pay fees of NIS 1000 to 1,200 at private afternoon facilities rather than NIS 800 at the municipal kindergartens. At least one center did not open its afternoon-care facilities this school year because too few parents signed up for it. "The activities offered in the afternoon care are a babysitting service only," one parent's letter of complaint said. "They are not challenging and the aim is just to pass the time, with the staff being unsuited for the job and too old." The report also quoted complaints from other parents. But a municipal spokesman said that just two official complaints had been received, and the city had investigated both of them and had found that the staff were professional and the food was adequate. Nevertheless, the spokesman said the city would soon hold a meeting with parents to discuss the complaints.