1,200 students and 120 staff members at Al-Furqan Schools in Jerusalem are at risk of sudden closure
The Israeli Ministry of Education announced on its Facebook page last Thursday evening the closure of Al-Furqan Schools in Jerusalem, claiming that the school was operating "unlicensed and illegally." The ministry attached the names of schools in the city and described them as "suitable educational alternatives for students" to ensure the continuity of the educational process.
Al-Furqan School was established 31 years ago in the Dahiyat Al-Barid area and obtained a license from the Palestinian Ministry of Education. It then moved to operate within Jerusalem, specifically in the town of Shu’fat, in 2002, and obtained the necessary licenses to operate within the city from the Israeli Ministry of Education.
Al-Furqan Schools suspended classes today following the sudden closure decision. Meetings were held throughout the day between the administration, teaching staff, and parents, with the participation of prominent figures in Jerusalem.
Sheikh Abdullah Alqam, a prominent Jerusalemite figure, said that a committee composed of Jerusalem residents and parents was formed to manage the school's operations. He announced that classes would resume next Monday, stressing the importance of preserving this educational institution.
Regarding the closure decision and its details, the Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Jerusalem interviewed Hayat al-Husseini, head of the Al-Furqan Schools in Jerusalem. She said, "The decision was a surprise to us, as it was to everyone else, through the ministry's Facebook page. This is an arbitrary, non-judicial, and non-binding decision. Today, we suspended school to obtain a decision that would enable us to continue working and complete the school year. We care for the students as much as parents care for their children, and we cannot allow the school year to be lost on them."
Al-Husseini added: "The decision has had a negative impact on the administration, the teaching staff, the students, and their families, both psychologically and intellectually." Al-Husseini explained that the ministry had suspended the school's license in July 2021, and sends a closure order every two years. However, our work continued and we did not comply; the decision is not from a judge. She noted that during one of the court sessions between the school and the ministry, the judge told a ministry representative, "There is no law that allows you to close a school with 1,200 students."
Al-Husseini continued: "On December 15, 2024, the Ministry of Education issued a decision to close the school, but classes continued. On February 27, 2024, the Ministry of Education's licensing director came to the school and said, 'The school is still operating... it must be closed,' threatening to take action against the school. At that time, we told him that the judge had not issued any closure order and that there was no court order compelling us to close the school."
Principal Al-Husseini added: "Education continued at Al-Furqan Schools until we were surprised last Thursday by an announcement on the Ministry of Education's Facebook page about the school's closure and the provision of alternatives for students."
Al-Furqan Schools in Jerusalem has five branches: primary and secondary for girls, primary and secondary for boys, and a kindergarten. There are 1,200 students, both boys and girls, and approximately 120 employees. Al-Husseini explained that Al-Furqan School met all the requirements and conditions for obtaining the necessary licenses. According to the Ministry of Education, the school met 88% of the requirements. According to the Ministry's regulations, any school that meets 67% of the requirements receives the necessary licenses.
She said: "The decision to close the school was made for reasons we do not know. The issue is not limited to Al-Furqan School alone, as several schools have closed in the past. We have not raised the flag for four years, and we insist on continuing our work for the benefit of the students."
As for the students' parents, some of them explained that they had tried to contact a number of schools listed by the Ministry of Education on its page to check "the Ministry's arrangements and the possibility of accepting students at the end of the school year. However, the school administrations informed them that they would not be able to accept new students at this stage.
As the school year draws to an end, anxiety is increasing among students and parents due to the decision to close Al-Furqan Schools. The students are facing numerous challenges due to the sudden decision, which has had a negative impact on their psychological well-being.
