Government allocates NIS 1.7 billion for education in the south

As part of the NIS 19 billion ($5 billion) plan approved by the Knesset yesterday to rehabilitate the war-ravaged southern communities, NIS 1.7 billion ($447 million) has been allocated for education, the Education Ministry announces.

The funds will be allocated to Sderot, Eshkol Regional Council, Shaar Hanegev, Sdot Negev and Ashkelon area.

They are all regions surrounding the Gaza Strip that were heavily affected by the October 7 assault by Hamas-led terrorists.

Each local authority is to formulate its own educational rehabilitation program, depending on its needs, in conjunction with the Education Ministry, the notice says.

The additional funding is in addition to the regular, yearly educational budget allocated to communities.

The educational renewal program is to be implemented over four years, and includes:

• NIS 977 million ($257 million) for pedagogical, education and therapeutic programming around resilience.
• NIS 200 million ($53 million) for the recruitment of teachers, consultants and psychologists.
• NIS 25 million ($6.5 million) for administrative staff.
• NIS 261 million ($68 million) for construction and renovations of educational facilities.
• NIS 236 million ($62 million) for afterschool programs and other activities.