Yesh Atid MK files police complaint against Shas schools

Following reports of improper conduct, MK Yoel Razbozov submits complaint exposing flaws in "El HaMa'ayan" institutions.

By LAHAV HARKOV, JEREMY SHARON
Shas schools 311 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Shas schools 311
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Yesh Atid MK Yoel Razbozov submitted a complaint against the Shas’s El Hama’ayan chain of schools to Jerusalem Police on Monday, following reports of improper conduct.
Razbozov’s complaint followed a report by the accountant-general indicating flaws in the way El Hama’ayan institutions are managed, including nepotism in its hiring practices, falsified reports, transferring special education funds to other students and others.
“I came here to request that an investigation be opened immediately,” Razbozov said. “I could not stand silently and watch how public funds are used inappropriately and harm children of Israel and their education.”
Razbozov expressed hope that the police will start an investigation “in light of the important public aspect of the issue.”
The Education Ministry said on Sunday that it will be taking a series of serious steps against the Shas school system in light of the accountant-general’s report.
The report highlights the practice of illegal employment of family members within the school network, false reporting, operating educational institutes without a license and the payment of salaries to people who did not work in the school system.
Because of the serious problems with the haredi school system in general, Education Minister Shai Piron has decided to implement serious reforms, including the dismantlement of the department within his ministry which oversees haredi education and instead creating a “haredi public school district.”
In addition, the budget for Shas’s school network will pass through the Education Ministry instead of passing directly to the educational network, as has happened until now. The funds will be earmarked for narrow purposes and it will not be possible to misappropriate money within the system.