Approximately 16,000 students remain evacuated from northern Israel, with over 90 schools in the region damaged due to rocket fire and military activities, according to Dr. Orna Simchon, head of the Education Ministry’s northern district. At a recent Knesset Education, Culture, and Sport Committee meeting, Simchon highlighted ongoing efforts to address these challenges, noting that eight new schools have been constructed for displaced students, with six more under development. However, construction delays persist due to Home Front Command security restrictions amid the conflict with Hezbollah.
“There are many challenges, and this period is complex,” Simchon said, reflecting on her own experience growing up under the threat of Katyusha rockets. She expressed confidence that education will resume, and the necessary measures will be taken to address both academic gaps and the mental health needs of students in the north.
Col. Yaron Visosser of the Home Front Command reported that 268 educational institutions within 3.5 to 9 kilometers of the Lebanon border lack adequate bomb shelters. About half of these schools are currently undergoing renovations to provide proper protection, which are expected to be completed by the end of this year or early next year, subject to security conditions.
Since the initial evacuation of communities within 3.5 kilometers of Lebanon last year, the remainder of northern Israel has been subjected to ongoing rocket fire. Residents have voiced frustration with the disparity in government assistance between those inside the evacuation zone and those still living under threat.
A heated exchange occurred during the meeting between Upper Galilee Regional Council’s Yoram Ibn Tzur and MK Katrin Shitrit-Peretz over budgetary support and the allocation of rehabilitation funds, resulting in Shitrit-Peretz leaving the session.
Despite ongoing discussions, the government has yet to create an official plan for the rehabilitation of northern Israel. Tekuma, the organization established to oversee the recovery of southern Israel after the October 7 assault, was formed in December.
Northern parents and students expressed dissatisfaction with the current educational situation, many citing inadequate protection and limited learning hours. Omri Lerner, head of the Eastern Galilee Parents’ Association, stated that many students are studying in trailers, with no proper protection during rocket alarms.
Education Committee Chairman MK Yosef Taieb pledged to make an urgent appeal to the government to address the issues of non-evacuated communities in the conflict zone. He also committed to requesting updated data on protected spaces in the education system and the associated budget.
Since November 2023, around 60,000 northern residents have been evacuated, scattered across various locations in Israel, with some living in hotels for months. Their safe return and the rehabilitation of the north remain contentious political issues, cited by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as key motivations for the ongoing military offensive against Hezbollah.