Six Christian schools in Jerusalem suspend classes as Israeli restrictions on teacher permits disrupt education and deepen the city’s education crisis.
Newsroom (13/01/2026 Gaudium Press ) In a dramatic reflection of the growing crisis within the city’s educational sector, the General Secretariat of Christian Educational Institutions and five private schools announced on Monday the suspension of classes. The decision comes as a direct response to restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities, which have severely limited teachers’ access to their schools.
The closures have sparked urgent appeals to government officials and international representatives. Efforts are currently underway to find a resolution, including diplomatic discussions with U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. The institutions’ leaders say they are pressing for an immediate intervention to prevent further deterioration in the city’s already fragile education landscape.
In a statement issued Monday, the Christian schools expressed deep concern over what they described as “significant and varied” challenges stemming from the new restrictions. They warned that if the measures persist, they could jeopardize the schools’ ability to continue their historic educational mission in Jerusalem.
A Legacy Under Threat
The Christian schools emphasized that they are not merely educational facilities, but essential pillars of Jerusalem’s cultural and national identity. For centuries, these institutions have educated generations of students from diverse religious and social backgrounds, fostering coexistence and mutual understanding in one of the world’s most complex cities.
According to the statement, Christian schools have long played a pivotal role in safeguarding language, heritage, and core human values, standing as living examples of the city’s shared spiritual and cultural life. Their work, the statement noted, has extended far beyond classrooms—into community programs, extracurricular activities, and social services that embody the human spirit of the Holy City.
Restrictions Impacting 171 Teachers
The crisis stems from what the schools describe as “arbitrary” administrative decisions by Israeli authorities. Specifically, they cite the suspension of entry permits for numerous teachers from the West Bank and the restriction of others to school days only, effectively barring them from performing administrative or extracurricular duties on other days.
These policies have directly affected 171 teachers and staff members, disrupting both academic and administrative functions. The result: an inability to begin the second semester, originally scheduled for last Saturday. The irregularities, administrators warn, could have lasting repercussions for students’ learning continuity and for the overall stability of the institutions.
Calls for Restoration of Educational Rights
School officials underscored that the right to obtain full and continuous work permits is fundamental and non-negotiable. Their responsibilities, they argued, extend beyond classroom teaching to community engagement and learning activities throughout the week. Limiting access undermines not only their operations but also the city’s broader educational and cultural ecosystem.
In their concluding remarks, the Christian schools expressed profound disappointment, asserting that such restrictive policies “do not serve the mission of Jerusalem as a holy city for all.” Instead, they cautioned, the measures seem to advance the agendas of those intent on disrupting the fabric of educational life in the city.
As efforts continue to seek political and diplomatic intervention, the suspension highlights the fragile balance between education, faith, and politics in Jerusalem—a city where classrooms have long been a microcosm of coexistence and contested identity.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from ACI Mena
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