The Israeli government on Wednesday approved an additional 39 million shekels to increase the salaries of preschool teachers in Chareidi mukar she’eino rishmi educational networks, adopting a new funding formula that recognizes teachers’ actual years of experience.

Under the new policy, government funding for preschool teachers’ salaries will now be based on each teacher’s actual seniority rather than on a capped average of up to 16 years. For years, the Chareidi preschool networks have been required to pay teachers according to their true seniority, education, and professional rank, while government funding failed to cover those actual costs.

The government resolution allocates 39 million shekels from the Finance Ministry to implement the revised funding model during 2026.

Officials from the Chareidi preschool networks hailed the decision as a historic breakthrough and an important first step toward correcting what they describe as a longstanding funding inequity that had pushed many schools toward financial collapse, threatened the livelihoods of thousands of preschool teachers, and cast uncertainty over the opening of the upcoming school year.

At the same time, the Association of Directors of Mochshar Preschool Networks stressed that the newly approved funding represents only a partial solution. The organization said it will continue pressing the government until Chareidi preschool teachers receive full and equal funding comparable to that provided to teachers in Israel’s general education system.

The campaign was spearheaded by Agudath Israel’s Ganim Network under the leadership of Director-General Yisrael Golomb, together with senior representatives of the Chareidi parties and administrators from other educational institutions.

Golomb welcomed the government’s decision but emphasized that significant work remains.

“The work has not yet been completed, and a long struggle still lies ahead until full funding is provided based on the actual profile of the preschool teachers. Nevertheless, we welcome the recognition of teachers’ seniority and thank everyone who worked on this effort, especially MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni. This is an important first step toward achieving real change.”

Golomb also expressed appreciation to his partners in the campaign, including Yaakov Segal, director-general of the Etz Hadaas educational network, the various school administrators, and CPA Avigail Shikovitzky, thanking them for their determination, dedication, and close partnership throughout the effort.