October 30, 2026
The Ministry of Education and Higher Education issued an official clarification regarding Regulatory Resolution No. 1513/M/2026 regarding regulating work in public schools and secondary schools, clarifying what it described as “fallacies and wrong interpretations” that accompanied its issuance, and detailing its position on the issues of division, the creation of the third cycle, the faltering divisions, the number of principals, and exceptional circumstances.
The Ministry confirmed that the decision was based exclusively on the internal regulations of public schools and secondary schools and not on previous norms, based on the data entered by principals through the designated program, and based on the educational necessities that require meeting the needs of every educational institution under the current circumstances.
Regarding the issue of creating the third cycle in secondary schools, the Ministry announced that it would not approve requests for creation for the 2026/2027 academic year in order to ensure the regularity of educational work, provided that the current situation remains unchanged throughout the current year.
Regarding the diversification standards, the Ministry explained that the previous internal system adopted a standard of 40 students per class in order to exceed the permissible limit and diversification, while the decision of the Minister of Education and Higher Education, Rima Karami, adopted a ceiling of 32 students as a criterion for diversification, in response to the proposals of the Education Association and secondary school principals.
Regarding the struggling population, the Ministry stated that the decision permitted exceptions when the number of students fell below the legal minimum (specified at 10 students for the kindergarten, third cycle, and secondary levels, and 15 students for the first and second cycle), taking into account geographical, security, and social conditions, and the availability of nearby alternative schools.
Regarding the issue of calculating the number of principals, the Ministry indicated that accrediting a principal for every 125 students in public secondary schools instead of 150 does not represent a targeting of any sector, but rather is consistent with internal regulations No. 590/1974 and the reference framework for the curricula, with the introduction of flexible amendments that allow for an increase of 15 hours of spectacles in a way that is consistent with the engineering design of the school building and the needs of secondary schools that attract students.
The Ministry stressed that the decision took into account exceptional circumstances based on justified reasons proposed by school administrations and relevant directorates, which include inclusive schools, schools that implement development programs and projects, and those located in unsafe areas or under Israeli occupation.
At the conclusion of its statement, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education renewed its keenness to preserve the highest educational and national interest of public education, affirming its commitment to partnering with education associations on the basis of mutual trust to ensure the stability of the academic year and achieve a balance between executive controls and the requirements of reality.
