T. Belman. Open the schools. Its not like the children are at risk.
TOI
The shutdown of the education system is costing the economy around NIS 2.6 billion per week, the Bank of Israel says.
The BOI’s calculation is based on the assumption that 408,000 households have to leave one parent at home to look after children. According to the BOI, Israel has 370,000 households with a child up to the age of four and a further 110,000 households up with children between the ages of five and nine, but without a sibling over the age of 15 who can look after them. The bank assumes that 15% of the total 480,000 households are able to provide a solution, thus leaving the number of 408,000 households.
In addition, the BOI says that the shutdown will cost a further estimated NIS 1 billion per week in future productivity as a result of skills that remained untaught.
The BOI says that while it is not possible to accurately gauge the cost to the economy of the “loss of educational production,” the education system has a “central role in shaping future generations which is reflected inter alia in the economy’s long-term productivity.”
The BOI notes that its estimate of NIS 1 billion per week does not take into account the beneficial impact of distance learning.
School administrative staff back at work as education system reopening on the horizon
School administrative staff are told today to return immediately to work ahead of a reopening of schools at a yet-to-be determined date.
School principals, deputy principals, secretaries, bookkeepers and caretakers will be the first to return.
A statement from the Education Ministry said administrative employees are returning to schools subject to Health Ministry guidelines.
“Step by step, the education system is returning to routine,” says Education Minister Rafi Peretz. “We are doing everything we can to get the education system running again and the return of administrative teams to schools is another step in that direction.”
Opening the schools makes sense. This is a very low risk population, even though could still spread the virus.
If the kids are not in school then at least one of the parents has to stay home to watch them, so the economy will continue to suffer.
“Bennett to Netanyahu: Open the economy and education system – Inside Israel
Defense Minister Naftali Bennett presented the Prime Minister plan for the immediate opening of the education system and economy.
The plan will be presented at the upcoming ministerial meeting
Defense Minister Naftali Bennett spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday about continuing to open the economy amid the coronavirus restrictions. In their conversation, Bennett presented an alternative plan to that of the Ministry of Health.
Minister Bennett argued that immediately after Independence Day, most of the education system (daycare centers, kindergartens, and elementary schools) and businesses in Israel (excluding entertainment and sports events) should be opened, while maintaining rules of distancing, increasing testing, and protecting nursing homes and the elderly population.
In addition, precaution would also have to be maintained to ensure that the hospitals are at no time overwhelmed by patients requiring ventilators.
The minister explained that at this stage, the damage of the closure on the livelihoods of Israelis is infinitely larger than its medical benefit.” From today’s Arutz Sheva.