Parents to Peretz: Postpone August IDF recruitment

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Parents called on Defense Minister Amir Peretz to postpone the August 2007 army recruitment so their children can take their 12th grade bagrut exams, which will most likely be delayed due to the teacher strike that has been in effect for the past two weeks. Although the Secondary School Teachers' Union ended the strike, which was meant to protest delays in salary and pension plan negotiations, last week, teachers are still refusing to participate in activities that take place outside of regular school hours - including bagrut preparation classes. In a letter to Peretz, the Parents' Association claimed that additional teacher sanctions were expected over the next few weeks, and that progress in negotiations between the teachers and the Finance Ministry was unlikely. As such, parents said, the students might not finish their bagrut exams before being inducted into the army - a situation that could lead to serious difficulties afterwards.