The number of students enrolled in Bnei Brak kindergartens,
schools and other educational institutions rose from 52,000
last year to 53,388 this year--the largest relative increase
in all of the Dan Region.
In Beitar this year about 10,000 students are studying in
about 350 classes. This year there are 1,300 new students, an
increase of 15 percent compared to last year. This reflects
the high birth rate in Beitar, as well as the new buildings
that were built.
According to City of Bnei Brak Secretary and Spokesman
Avrohom Tanenbaum, 25,032 students are enrolled in primary
school--2,963 in municipal schools for chareidi boys, 9,628
in public talmudei Torah, 10,647 in municipal schools
for chareidi girls, 1,023 in government-religious
(mamlachti-dati) schools, 459 in government
(mamlachti) schools and 312 in special education
programs. The city has 30 chareidi schools, 5 government-
religious schools and 2 government schools.
In the upper grades are 10,629 students--4,911 from the
chareidi sector (eight schools), 4,000 in public frameworks,
1,665 in four government-religious schools and 544 at the
city's single government school.
The kindergartens have 6,442 students in 132 municipal
kindergarten classes for chareidim, 4,500 in public chareidi
frameworks, 570 in government-religious kindergartens (22
classes), 52 in government kindergartens (two classes) and
230 in special education programs. This year four integrated
kindergartens are in operation.
Two institutions for girls recently relocated to splendid new
facilities. The Gur Seminary moved to an NIS 16-million
building with 24 classrooms and the Giva'ah branch of the
Wolf High School and Seminary moved into an NIS 19-million
building with 36 classrooms. In addition to the regular
classrooms, both of these facilities also boast laboratories,
a pedagogical center, libraries and administrative wings.
At the Beis Yaakov primary school in the Zichron Meir
neighborhood 15 new classrooms are currently under
construction. The NIS 6-million project will replace the
mobile structures in use until now. At the central Beis
Yaakov school on Rambam Street a new 6-classroom wing opened
this year at a cost of NIS 1.5 million following the opening
of a new wing three years ago.
During the course of the coming year 10 new classrooms are
slated for construction at the Beis Yaakov school in the
Ramat Aharon neighborhood, replacing the 10 mobile classrooms
currently in use. The plan will also provide a solution for
the Shemaya kindergarten and club for the hard of hearing. In
Pardes Berman, near the new residential buildings, ten new
kindergarten classrooms will be built. The Center for
Learning Improvement for students with learning disabilities,
will soon move to the new building near Pardes Berman.
Shortly before the school year opened a preparation day was
held for the staffs of chareidi special education
kindergartens owned by the City. Participants included Rabbi
Amrom Ivgy, deputy mayor and head of the education
department; Rabbi Yehuda Levy, deputy director of the
education department; Mrs. Leah Ben Ari, the Education
Ministry's representative supervisor; Mrs. Yardena Cohen,
psychologist for the special education kindergartens; and
Mrs. Bella Rubin, director of the department of special
education.
In his opening speech Rabbi Ivgy praised the respective
staffs for attending to tinokos shel beis rabban,
saying this is a zechus in and of itself, particularly
in the case of impaired children in need of special care. He
noted that monetary returns are not always in accordance with
the amount invested, saying that at special education
kindergartens it is well-known that the staff invests
extensive efforts, which calls for considerable preparation.
He then offered his blessings that the merit of their work in
caring for these children stand by them and their family
members, adding that he would always be glad to make himself
available to assist in any capacity.
