Schools set to remain closed tomorrow, aim to reopen on Wednesday

Schools nationwide will remain closed tomorrow, Education Minister Yoav Kisch has announced, with plans to reopen at least partially for in-person instruction on Wednesday

“The Education Ministry’s policy is to return to in-person learning as quickly as possible,” Kisch writes on X, stressing that it is unreasonable to keep the education system shut down while workplaces can operate, provided that safe access to shelters is guaranteed.

He makes the statement prior to Iran’s announcement that it will halt its attacks if Israel does the same.

Kisch says that after consulting with local authorities and other actors, the ministry decided to keep schools closed for another day to allow them to organize, but the goal is to return to in-person learning on Wednesday, “in a protected framework.”

Some 40% of schools in the country do not offer adequate access to shelters, according to data from a State Comptroller’s audit in March.

In the previous round of the war with Iran in February-April, only schools in areas deemed at lower risk of attack and only certain grades were initially allowed to resume in-person classes, before a ceasefire was declared on April 8.

According to a statement by the Education Ministry, special education schools and programs for at-risk youth will be prioritized.

The statement adds that all matriculation exams for this week are canceled.