Ministry of Education begins enforcement: Teachers with Palestinian Authority degrees restricted
The Ministry of Education has begun enforcing the law prohibiting the employment of teaching staff with academic degrees from Palestinian Authority institutions. The directive, issued to district managers, follows legislation passed in January by Knesset members Amit Halevi and Avichai Boaron. Exceptions are provided for candidates who hold additional recognized Israeli credentials.
The Ministry of Education has begun enforcing the law prohibiting the employment of teaching staff with academic degrees from higher education institutions in the Palestinian Authority. In recent days, the ministry distributed an official directive to district managers and human resources personnel, instructing them not to employ such staff, except in cases where special permission is requested.
The directive follows the law to prevent the employment of teaching staff with academic degrees from the Palestinian Authority, which was approved by the Knesset last January at the initiative of Likud MKs Amit Halevi and Avichai Boaron.
At the same time, a new survey by "Ha-Shomer Ha-Hadash" and the Rifman Institute, conducted via the Smith Institute, found that about 67% of the public believe that teachers educated in Palestinian institutions do not contribute to strengthening their students' sense of identification and belonging to the State of Israel. About half of the public believe the law will help strengthen the sense of identification of Arab students with the state.
Hagai Reznik, head of the Rifman Institute for the Development of the Negev, stated: "The law is an important step. The education system is the infrastructure for shaping the identity of the future generation, and we must ensure that those who educate our children act in light of the state's values."
Yoel Zilberman, CEO and founder of "Ha-Shomer Ha-Hadash", added: "We will continue to shape the future generation in education, agriculture, land protection, and Zionist heritage."
Who will still be able to receive permission to teach?
Alongside the prohibition, the procedure established several exceptions. Candidates with academic education from a Palestinian Authority institution who also hold an additional bachelor's degree from a recognized institution in Israel and a teaching certificate from an Israeli training institution may submit a request for employment approval. The request will be brought before an advisory committee to the Director General of the Ministry of Education.
Candidates must present their credentials and justify their request. Anyone refused or whose approval was revoked is entitled to appeal the decision to the Minister of Education within 21 days.
Parallel to the start of enforcement, a petition to the Supreme Court against the law is still pending. The Association for Civil Rights and other petitioners are seeking to cancel the law and have requested an interim order to prevent its entry into force until a final decision is made.
