Minister: Some schools may reopen Sunday, depending on Home Front Command’s assessment on Saturday

In a virtual press conference, Education Minister Yoav Kisch confirms that a gradual reopening of schools in certain areas might happen on Sunday, as long as the Home Front Command allows it in its next assessment of the security situation on Saturday night.

“The outline has been defined,” Kitsch says. “There is a process in which local authorities might be classified as yellow. What does yellow mean? It means that educational activities will be allowed adjacent to a standard protected space.”

“This is subject to the Home Front Command’s situation assessments,” he adds. “On Saturday night, there will be another assessment, which will determine whether we move forward with the opening outline on Sunday.”

In the first stage, only special education schools, daycares, and grades 1, 2, 11 and 12 are set to reopen.

According to the minister, as of now, it is not feasible to reopen schools in the Gush Dan area in central Israel, which includes the greater Tel Aviv area, nor in the north of the country, given the heavy fire they are exposed to. However, it might be possible in other regions.

Kisch says the ministry and all the relevant authorities will do whatever they can to prepare ahead of time so that if the Home Front Command allows it on Saturday night, schools in yellow areas will be ready to operate on Sunday morning.

Kisch also stresses that, as long as they cannot reopen in person, schools will continue distance learning to maintain the connection between teachers and students.