Israeli education strikes

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Israeli schools and universities have been subject to repeated strikes over the years by faculty, and, occasionally, students.


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[edit] 2007 student strike

The 2007 Israeli student strike started in April 2007 in protest at the government decision to increase tuition fees [1] and the failure to implement the 2001 Winograd Committee recommendation that they be reduced by 25%. [2] Students have clashed with police, blocked roads and been arrested. [3] [4] [5] After three weeks of strikes the presidents of the universities tried to break the strike with the threat that all students who failed to return to their studies on 8 May would have to retake the semester. The student leadership responded by intensifying the strike. [6] On 7 May students prevented the reopening of the universities by sealing off university entrances with chains. [7] Student leaders rejected a compromise proposal by the Israeli Prime Minister which would have exempted current students from the fee rises.[8] Divisions amongst students have been reported in the Israeli media[9]. Some students have started a hunger strike[10].

Negotiations between the Students and the Israeli government have failed to end the strike, despite reported breakthroughs.[11]

The strike ended on May 14 after Student leaders narrowly agreed a compromise with the government which accepted the implementation of the controversial Shochat reforms. This agreement was unpopular with grass roots student activists.[12]

[edit] Haaretz position

The Haaretz newspaper editorial denounced the strike, accusing the students leaders of having their own extreme agenda against capitalism, privatization, capitalists and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.[13]

After denouncing the students, the paper has published an article claiming that the student unions seem to have lost control of events and that it is it's belief that "grassroots elements" are preventing a return to class while many of the student leaders would have been happy to end the strike and return to class. [14].

[edit] 2007 teacher strike

Middle and secondary school teachers have been on strike for over a month and a half. Their demands include an 8.5% pay raise, reducing class sizes to a maximum of 30 students, and increasing the length of the school day.[15]

The senior faculty of the universities has been on strike since the opening of the 2007 autumn semester. The strike was ended in Mid December 2007 after the Jewish holiday of Hannukah. The school year, for all the schools who striked, has been extended until July 10, 2008.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Student and Teacher Strikes Continue, No End in Sight Israel National News, 7 May 2007
  2. ^ Tamir, students union announce cancellation of university strike Haaretz, 24 February 2007
  3. ^ Education: Striking while the iron is hot Jerusalem Post, 3 May 2007
  4. ^ 18 student protesters arrested Wednesday
  5. ^ The ‘red revolution’ for free education
  6. ^ Students threaten to step up strike, 'seal off' campuses Haaretz, 6 May 2007
  7. ^ Protesting students bar Tel Aviv University with chains and barbed wire Haaretz, 7 May 2007
  8. ^ Student leader: Compromise presented by PMO is 'humiliating'
  9. ^ Ynet article
  10. ^ Striking students set to expand protest against education reforms
  11. ^ Student union representatives: Strike to continue as planned
  12. ^ Universities to reopen today as 41-day strike ends
  13. ^ Back to class, Haaretz editorial
  14. ^ 'Emerging democracy' among students keeps strike alive
  15. ^ אולמרט: מקווה ששביתת שהמורים תסתיים עד סוף השבוע

[edit] See also