After five months in hotels: Sderot's children go back to school

Education Minister Kisch and a Sderot class ready to learn. (Photo: Sivan Shachor, GPO)

Five months after being forced to evacuate their homes in the wake of the October 7 massacre, Sderot students returned to school today (Sunday), where they were received by Education Minister Yoav Kisch and Mayor Alon Davidi.

In the wake of the war, Sderot’s schoolchildren were evacuated to dozens of locations and temporary educational frameworks throughout the country. Today, after five months of learning apart from their classmates and friends, they returned home to finish the school year.

There are 88 kindergartens, 12 elementary schools, 5 high schools, and one special education school in Sderot, all of which are being reopened.

The State of Israel’s Future Generation

During his visit, Education Minister Kisch said “for me this is a particularly exciting day – in fact this is a kind of second start to the school year. Thousands of the city’s students and educational staff are finally returning to their natural place, to their home. The educational system is receiving them with warmth and will embrace them as much as possible, in order to reduce the difficulties and bridge the gaps which arose in the wake of the difficult circumstances. Welcome to the students and parents – welcome home.”

Sderot Mayor Alon Davidi added that “the smile on the faces of the boys and girls of Sderot upon arriving to the educational institutions this morning says it all. The opening of the educational institutions after a challenging period the likes of which we have not yet experienced is very much part of our dealing with the war that is still ongoing, alongside life is which is stronger than anything.

“Here in Sderot, the future generation of the State of Israel is being educated, a generation of restoration which will grow to be stronger. Without the strong effort of all the city’s offices and the Education Ministry’s teams, we would not be here, and for this I show enormous appreciation. To you, dear students and kindergarten teachers: continue to be a great light to the children of Israel who learn what real determination is from you.”