Senior religious education officials demand hundreds of millions of shekels and autonomy in coalition negotiations

In depth

Senior officials in state-religious education submitted a list of demands to party leaders ahead of coalition negotiations. The demands include budget increases of hundreds of millions of shekels, representation for the religious sector in each of the central divisions of the Education Ministry, and autonomy in managing the religious education system.

According to the demands, religious education would receive full autonomy in managing the system, along with a pedagogical veto right similar to the Haredi model. It is also required that local authorities be obligated to fund an addition to religious education.

CEOs of religious education networks submitted the document as part of preparations for the negotiations. The final details of the demands are still unclear, and the precise budget that will be required has not been set.