"You cannot force cultural changes. If, for example, a haredi person
will tell me that 'adding math to Torah studies constitutes blasphemy,' I
will set up special study centers that will operate in the afternoon.
The goal is to reach an agreement (that will see the haredi schools)
teach the core curriculum subjects, but if we fail to reach an
agreement, a difficult battle is expected. Institutions that will teach
the core subjects will be funded 100%. Those that won't will be hurt."
Rabbi Shai Piron
Education Minister To Haredi Schools: Teach Math, Civics, English And Other Core Subjects Or Lose Government Funding
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
Haredi schools and yeshivas that do not teach math, English and civics will not receive government funding, Education Minister Rabbi Shai Piron told the Israeli daily newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.
"You want money from the State? Teaching the core subjects is the State's condition [for getting it]. If you don't go along [with that, I'm taking the money [away from your school].…While these are private institutions which cannot be told what to teach, there is no reason for me to fund them either. The State cannot fund something that goes against its interests.
"You cannot force cultural changes. If, for example, a haredi person will tell me that 'adding math to Torah studies constitutes blasphemy,' I will set up special study centers that will operate in the afternoon. The goal is to reach an agreement (that will see the haredi schools) teach the core curriculum subjects, but if we fail to reach an agreement, a difficult battle is expected. Institutions that will teach the core subjects will be funded 100%. Those that won't will be hurt," Piron said in the interview, which was published today.
Even though the law requires any school funded by the government to teach the country’s core curriculum – which also includes science, history and Modern Hebrew language – haredi schools and yeshivas often do not teach all or large parts of it. Many male haredi students get no secular education at all and are absolutely unequipped for the modern job market.
The employment deficit this contributes to costs Israel’s economy millions of dollars every year and threatens Israel’s long term economic stability.