Won't they start without us? The 2024-2024 academic year officially begins this morning at public universities and colleges. This is happening after a three-month postponement, and tens of thousands of students are still in reserve, some deep in the heart of Gaza, and cannot start their studies.
According to the outline, the school year begins in two phases: today all students who are not in reserve duty will return to study. In a few weeks, when the reservist students are discharged, they will return for "completion week," and their friends will take a week's vacation. After that, everyone will go back to school together. The original date is January 28, 2024, but there is no certainty that everyone will return to school by then.
IDF Spokesperson
As noted, it is still unknown when the fighting will end and when reservist students will be released, and many of them express disappointment and resentment over the outline, to the point of feeling betrayed by the institutions and the committee of university heads, which determined the outline without talking to them.
Many student bodies have campaigned against the plan. It should be remembered that students are not only dealing with the loss of educational material – many of them have lost friends, been exposed to difficult scenes and may experience post-traumatic stress disorder, others are in financial collapse and will struggle to pay rent, expenses and tuition.
A symbol of optimism
Alongside the great criticism, the day of students' return to campuses is still an exciting day, a symbol of optimism - and we must remember that it is made possible thanks to IDF soldiers, who sacrifice their lives for routine on the home front. In recent months, many students have been involved in fighting and assisting evacuees and IDF units, many of whom volunteered in a way that influenced them and shaped their choices.
The harsh scenes of Black Sabbath, as well as the days of fighting in Gaza, may affect few of those exposed to them. Students who were at a party in bad guys, students who experienced missile attacks, students who lost friends during the fighting or were hurt themselves. Some of the fighters were exposed to scenes of death and killing and served for weeks in a very tense environment. Requiring them to return to school without grieving or processing what happened to them can create difficulties for them.
Thus, for example, the Jezreel Valley Academic College provided a financial grant and educational support to reservists, but more importantly – reservists, permanent servants and their spouses will be able to receive immediate emotional assistance and professional emotional treatment that includes up to 40 individual treatments at no cost. Treatment will be provided in clinics by region of residence by professionals working with the college.
"Dealing with a lot"
According to Dean of Students at Emek Yizreel Academic College, Etty Shefi, "Due to the war, we significantly expanded the framework of emotional, academic and economic assistance that will be provided. We have opened a hotline through which you can receive an immediate emotional help call with a professional. We held resilience workshops for all students before starting their studies due to the situation.
"In addition, a unique workshop will be held for reservists, which will provide recognition and space for the enormous difficulties experienced by reservists and guidance on how to adapt to studies when returning from the inferno of combat, sometimes while continuing to report to the reserves for certain periods of time. We will do everything possible to meet the challenges of the times and help all our students get through the year."
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