Education Ministry says Finance Ministry data gaps blocked High Court update in haredi funding case

A significant procedural hurdle has emerged in the High Court case concerning state funding for ultra-Orthodox (haredi) school networks, with the Education Ministry citing a lack of cooperation from the Finance Ministry as the reason for its inability to provide a court-ordered update. This development points to a troubling lack of coordination within the government's response to a critical legal challenge.

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According to the filing, the Education Ministry had contacted the Finance Ministry for the relevant material, but had not received all of the necessary data.

The Education Ministry's filing reveals that despite requests, it has not received all necessary data from the Finance Ministry to adequately address the court's inquiries. This includes information crucial for explaining the transfer of funds, particularly a NIS 800 million budget transfer from December 2025, which was reportedly sent before receiving full Knesset Finance Committee approval. The ministry stated that some data was incomplete or required further processing, underscoring a systemic issue in information sharing between these key government bodies.

This inter-ministerial friction is occurring within the context of a broader legal battle over state funding for two major haredi education networks: Ma’ayan Hahinuch Hatorani and the Independent Education Center. Petitioners argue that these networks, which educate tens of thousands of students and receive billions of shekels annually, often fail to meet basic academic standards, including the teaching of core curriculum subjects like math, English, and science. They also question the adequacy of the state's oversight, which they claim relies heavily on self-reporting and pre-arranged inspections rather than robust, real-time enforcement.

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The ministry responsible for education funding told the court it could not explain the transfer of funds without data controlled by another ministry.

The inability of the Education Ministry to provide a timely and complete update to the High Court, due to the Finance Ministry's data gaps, not only delays the legal proceedings but also raises serious questions about governmental transparency and accountability. For the Israeli public, and particularly for those concerned with educational standards and the equitable distribution of public funds, this bureaucratic impasse is a cause for concern, highlighting the challenges in ensuring that state funding aligns with educational mandates and oversight requirements.

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Some information, it said, was incomplete, required additional processing, or remained accessible only through Finance Ministry systems.