Secondary School Teachers' Association chairman Ran Erez said Wednesday that the education system must do everything to prevent MK Yoav Kisch from becoming the next education minister, calling Kisch's impact a 'disaster' that causes immense damage. Erez's statement comes amid an ongoing dispute with the Education Ministry over payment for a canceled school day.
Ran Erez, chairman of the Secondary School Teachers' Association, escalated his confrontation with MK Yoav Kisch on Wednesday, calling him a "disaster" who causes "immense damage" to the education system and stating that everything must be done to prevent Kisch from becoming education minister. The statement, published by Yedioth Ahronoth, marks a shift from the labor dispute to a personal political attack. Erez's comments come as speculation mounts over a possible cabinet reshuffle, though no change has been confirmed.
The dispute began earlier Wednesday when Erez demanded that teachers be paid for a single school day canceled during the escalation with Iran, threatening to stall the opening of the school year if the payment was not made. As The Zioneer reported at 11:37 Jerusalem, Education Minister Yoav Kisch responded by attacking Erez's 30-year tenure, accusing him of achieving nothing for teachers. Kisch later dismissed the strike threat as "empty headlines" designed to generate headlines, according to i24NEWS.
The Zioneer has reported extensively on tensions within the education system. On June 8, Kisch said all schools might reopen subject to the prime minister's decision. On June 14, a security assessment warned of nationwide school closures if Iran's fire continued. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also criticized the education minister as "terrible" and unveiled a reform plan on June 25.
The immediate trigger for the dispute — the unpaid day during the Iran escalation — remains unresolved. It is unclear whether Erez's opposition to Kisch's potential appointment will influence coalition decisions. The union's threat to stall the school year has not been retracted.
4 developments
- DevelopingTeachers' union head threatens school year delay over salary deduction dispute
- DevelopingEducation Minister Kisch says all schools may reopen tomorrow, pending PM's decision
- DevelopingYoav Kisch faces hearing after reports of political interference in ultra-Orthodox education
- ConfirmedEducation Minister Kisch cancels all national matriculation exams for coming week
Source and signal
- Internal intake