{"id":84529,"date":"2025-07-15T15:17:24","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T12:17:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jerusalem-online.co.il\/?p=84529"},"modified":"2025-07-14T22:26:24","modified_gmt":"2025-07-14T19:26:24","slug":"after-school-dilemma-in-jerusalem-parents-still-unsure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jerusalem-online.co.il\/en\/after-school-dilemma-in-jerusalem-parents-still-unsure\/","title":{"rendered":"After-School Dilemma in Jerusalem: Parents Still Unsure"},"content":{"rendered":"

After-school programs are no longer just a logistical solution \u2013 they\u2019ve become a deeply emotional question for many families. In Jerusalem, where registration has opened for the upcoming school year, some parents welcome the structure and subsidy. Others, however, are increasingly hesitant. Between concerns over rotating staff and repeated complaints about the food, the choice feels more personal than ever<\/p>\n

What the city is offering<\/h3>\n

The Jerusalem Municipality and the local education authority (Manhi), in partnership with the Ministry of Education, have opened registration for the 2025\u20132026 municipal after-school program known as Nitzanim<\/em>. The program runs from September 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, and is intended for preschoolers (ages 3\u20136) and first- and second-grade students<\/p>\n

Activities include educational enrichment, games, emotional support, and a hot lunch, all provided under professional supervision<\/p>\n

Registration is open via the city\u2019s personal online portal:
https:\/\/www.jerusalem.muni.il\/zaharonim<\/a><\/p>\n

Some days it feels more like babysitting than education<\/h3>\n

While some parents are satisfied with the program, others express disappointment.
Yonit, a mother of three from Gilo, shares:
“Last year I enrolled my son in a municipal after-school program. He would come home drained, sometimes even crying. At first I thought it was just his age, but then I heard the same stories from other moms. The real issue is that the staff keeps changing. The child barely gets used to one counselor \u2013 and suddenly there\u2019s another. That breaks trust.”<\/p>\n

Food is another point of frustration.
Michal, a mother from Kiryat Yovel, says:
“The kids say the food is sometimes cold, and often just not tasty. Sure, they\u2019re children \u2013 they\u2019re picky \u2013 but if a child consistently comes home saying they didn\u2019t eat, that\u2019s a problem. The staff should know how to deal with this, how to make lunch more accessible. And when that doesn\u2019t happen, it\u2019s no wonder some parents decide to bring their kids straight home instead.”<\/p>\n

(Jerusalem Honors a Voice: Yehoram Gaon Exhibition<\/a>)<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Others have opted out entirely.
Shlomit, a single mother from Har Homa, explains:
“My kids aren\u2019t in any after-school program \u2013 not because of money, but because I can\u2019t take the risk. I hired a student who watches them three afternoons a week. It costs more, but at least I know who\u2019s with them. I\u2019m not judging other parents \u2013 it just doesn\u2019t work for me<\/p>\n

A global perspective: After-school hours matter<\/h3>\n

According to research from the OECD and several universities, the hours following the school day are critical for a child\u2019s development. Structured, supportive environments are associated with stronger social skills, reduced anxiety, and improved academic outcomes.<\/p>\n

(Jerusalem\u2019s Summer Fruit of Peace Returns with Meaning<\/a>)<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In a city like Jerusalem \u2013 with deep social divides, diverse communities, and constant pressure on public services \u2013 these programs can become powerful tools for equality and emotional safety. When they succeed, they can transform a child\u2019s experience. When they fail, families are left to fend for themselves.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Registration is open, but some parents in Jerusalem raise concerns about staff, food, and emotional cost<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":70,"featured_media":84532,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"After-School Dilemma in Jerusalem: Parents Still Unsure","_seopress_titles_desc":"Registration is open, but some parents in Jerusalem raise concerns about staff, food, and emotional cost","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9320],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-84529","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-jerusalem-news"},"acf":{"subtitle":"Registration is open, but some parents in Jerusalem raise concerns about staff, food, and emotional cost"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jerusalem-online.co.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84529","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jerusalem-online.co.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jerusalem-online.co.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jerusalem-online.co.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/70"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jerusalem-online.co.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=84529"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/jerusalem-online.co.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84529\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jerusalem-online.co.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/84532"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jerusalem-online.co.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=84529"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jerusalem-online.co.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=84529"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jerusalem-online.co.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=84529"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}