today (Thursday), 10.11.05, toured the Harel school in Ashkelon, which has a meal plan as part of an experimental integrated social welfare, education and health program. The program is currently being operated in Ashkelon and Afula. In the framework of the program, the school operates four times a week from 08:00-18:00 and provides social, educational and therapeutic responses to students in accordance with their needs. The program also involves special-needs children who are eligible for educational activities as part of enrichment activities for all students in the city. The school meal plan in schools with a long school day currently reaches approximately 165,000 students and operates in approximately 60 local council areas; the plan reaches approximately 5,000 students in Ashkelon. During his tour PMO Director-General Cohen met with a forum of parents, educators and municipal leaders. The participants said that there was great satisfwith the meal plans contribution to advancing Ashkelons education and social welfare systems. The school headmistress said that because of the plan, truancy has declined to almost nil and school violence has declined significantly. PMO Director-General Cohen was invited to observe various student activities and was impressed by their achievements and the atmosphere in the school. He commended the participants and encouraged them to continue their worthy achievements.
BPI-info
BPI-info
