Public Funds, Private Agendas: Why Israel Must Put an End to Political Deals in Education
Israel's government proposal to allocate around 40 million shekels (approximately $11 million) from the GEFEN education program to the Haredi Bnei Yosef school network is illegal, and a violation of recent Supreme Court rulings
14/08/2025 10:52
Tags: GEFEN education program · Bnei Yosef network · Supreme Court · Education Minister Yoav Kisch
Haredi school students by the Western Wall Credit: Yossi Zamir, via ShatilStock
A major controversy is unfolding in Israel over a government proposal to allocate around 40 million shekels (approximately $11 million) from the GEFEN education program to the Haredi Bnei Yosef school network. The move is illegal, harmful to students, and a violation of recent Supreme Court rulings.
What is the GEFEN program?
GEFEN (an acronym for: Flexible Pedagogy Management) is a government initiative which allows for school principals to receive additional resources to be used freely at their school, according to their discretion. The program is aimed at strengthening Israeli schools and improving learning outcomes. Schools that receive GEFEN funding must meet strict conditions:
1. Teach the full core curriculum (mathematics, science, English, civics etc.).
2. Employ teachers qualified to teach those subjects.
3. Have students participate in national and international assessments.
4. Maintain transparent financial reporting and proper governance.
Why is this proposal controversial?
Education Minister Yoav Kisch is pushing for a government decision that would grant GEFEN funds to the ‘Bnei Yosef’ school network, affiliated with the Shas political party, even though they are not eligible according to the funding criteria:
• Core Curriculum: The network’s schools do not teach the full core curriculum and employ unqualified teachers for core subjects.
• Testing: Students have not participated in key national and international assessments, such as the PISA exam. (The Ministry even canceled a planned national science test in 2024, a decision critics say was made to avoid exposing the lack of science instruction!)
• Transparency: Officials found that the Bnei Yosef network fails to meet basic accounting and transparency standards. They plan to create a new payments system and oversight protocols, but these aren’t yet in place. A standard funding model will start only in 2026, leaving current state spending largely unmonitored.
This echoes an earlier attempt to funnel funds under the ‘New Horizon’ framework, which the Court blocked after a Hiddush petition. In July, Israel’s Supreme Court ruled that no GEFEN funds may be
Officials found that the Bnei Yosef network fails to meet basic accounting and transparency standards
transferred to these networks without prior compliance with the program’s requirements and without giving the Court advance notice. Despite this, the Education Ministry appears intent on pushing forward.
Why does this matter? Because the issue is not just about money—it’s about values and the future of Israeli society.
First, equality and fairness.
Public education should be a public good. Every child, regardless of community or background, deserves the opportunity to learn basic skills that open doors to employment, civic participation, and a dignified life. When the state funds schools that deliberately deny children these skills, it abandons its responsibility to the next generation.
Second, accountability.
Democracies work when public funds serve the public interest, not political patronage. When a school network can receive millions without teaching core subjects or submitting to financial oversight, the system is broken. This is not about respecting religious freedom; it’s about rejecting political corruption and enforcing the rule of law.
Third, the long-term social cost.
Children who leave school without basic education are condemned to poverty and dependence. Entire communities become economically marginalized. The economy suffers. Social cohesion erodes. And the cycle of poverty and political manipulation continues—because parties that control these networks count on keeping their voters dependent.
Hiddush’s message is simple: education is a right, not a bargaining chip. Every public shekel should go to schools that prepare children for life, not to those that deliberately keep them unprepared for the modern world.
This is not an attack on faith or tradition. Israel can and should respect religious diversity. But respecting diversity does not mean surrendering to inequality. It does not mean giving political actors a blank check to undermine education standards. It certainly does not mean sacrificing the futures of tens of thousands of children.
Israel stands at a crossroads. Will public education serve all its children equally? Or will it become just another currency in the political marketplace?