On Tuesday, Israel's Supreme Court mandated that the state provide an explanation regarding the funding of ultra-Orthodox educational institutions, specifically questioning why such funding is not contingent upon the institutions teaching a full core curriculum. The court's ruling requires a response from the state by March 15, and it has called for appropriate supervision measures that extend beyond mere self-reporting or pre-arranged visits. This comes at a time of increasing scrutiny over educational standards and state accountability in light of the significant financial support allocated to these institutions.

The case was brought forward by the organization Hiddush, which reported that the Ministry of Education has not only failed to ensure compliance with core curriculum standards but has also hindered transparency by allegedly withholding crucial documents from the court. According to the petitioners, the state’s earlier responses indicated that no boys' schools within the ultra-Orthodox network fully teach the core subjects, and the Ministry has not conducted proper assessments of teacher qualifications for teaching these subjects. This situation highlights ongoing concerns regarding educational inequality and the rights of students within these systems.

In light of these conclusions, the Court has demanded that the state action is necessary to locate institutions failing to meet these core educational requirements, suggesting potential budgetary reductions for those failing to comply. This ruling underlines the growing tension between the government’s responsibility to ensure quality education and the traditional frameworks of the ultra-Orthodox education system in Israel, raising critical questions about educational reforms and the future of state funding policies.