Recent articles and opinion pieces focus on the need to educate Haredi youth for workforce

As the ultra-Orthodox sector’s presence in the educational system and in Israeli society continues to grow, the debate about their lack of preparedness for the workforce and for life in a democratic country has heated up recently. Although their schools are funded by the state, many refuse to teach the core subjects that would enable their graduates to integrate into the workforce and modern Israeli society.

Y-net reported on the debate between Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai, representing secular education, and MK Moshe Gafni, speaking on behalf of ultra-Orthodox public, which took place at an education conference held at the Seminar HaKibbutzim College. Huldai stated that the ultra-Orthodox education system is jeopardizing the future of Israeli society and said: “Today the State of Israel is probably the only country in the world where private education is being funded by the public, without it having to adhere to a minimum of educational demands.” He added that “due to political pressure… the State of Israel is funding and cultivating entire insulated and ignorant sectors which are increasing at a frightening speed and jeopardizing our political and financial strength.”

For the entire article:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3883809,00.html

In a related Jerusalem Post article, Mayor Huldai clarified his position after Shas accused him of racism.

For the entire article:

http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=174552

In a “letter” to an ultra-Orthodox friend, popular op-ed writer Yair Lapid writes:

“Tell ultra-Orthodox that Israelis seculars can no longer support them… Forget about ideology, and forget about the fact that I fail to understand how you´re not bothered by the fact you live at my expense, but I can no longer pay.”

For the entire article:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3883019,00.html

In an opinion piece informed by statistics from a Taub Center study, commentator Nahum Barnea says: Employment, education issues threaten State of Israel’s future

According to Taub Center director, Professor Dan Ben-David, within a few years Israelis won’t be able to shoulder the burden of the unproductive sectors. “We’ll see a social explosion.”

“The solutions are quite clear, says Barnea: “We need to… turn the Haredi community from a sector that studies (or seemingly studies) to a sector that works. Meanwhile, Haredi schools must teach the core curriculum. We must invest much more in education in general.”

For the entire article:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3884152,00.html

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