Israel's high school students skip class as threats of further strikes ramp up

Only 50% of high school students attended school on Monday, according to estimates in the education system. In the 12th grade, a very low rate of attendance was reported.

On Sunday, the Secondary Schools Teachers Association announced the end of the strike in high schools "despite the irresponsibility of the Finance Ministry" and the halt in negotiations.

The strike, announced by the association on September 1, was aimed at addressing the current state of negotiations and minimizing disruption to students’ education.

The strike was declared after negotiations over teachers’ salaries and contracts failed to produce an agreement.

Following the late Sunday announcement, students began a strike of their own, initiated by Israel's National Student and Youth Council and the National Parent Leadership.

'A tactical move'

While the students' strike is set to end on Tuesday, the organizations warned, "If the parties do not reach an agreement by September 16,  Israel's National Student and Youth Council  and the national parent leadership will initiate a course of extreme disruptions in the activity of the high school education system."

Chairman of the teachers' association Ran Erez said on Tuesday that "Stopping the strike is only a tactical move."

He added, "The Finance Ministry wanted to deceive us into signing an agreement that it did not intend to carry out. Smotrich decided that in order to cut NIS 40 billion from the state budget, he would freeze wages in the public sector. He wanted to hurt the teachers with an agreement he did not intend to carry out. We will continue the fight."

Education Minister Yoav Kisch stated, "We are in a time of war; there's an excellent agreement on the table; let's end this unnecessary event and return to focusing mainly on the advancement of teachers, students, and the education system."