After years of war, northern border town bets on tiny classes to bring families home

After three years of war and evacuation, the northern Israeli border town of Metula is implementing a new educational model called "Whole Education" at HaNadiv School for the upcoming school year. This initiative, designed to rebuild the community and attract families, focuses on small classes of eight to ten students, close coordination among educators, and individualized attention for each child. David Azoulay, head of the Metula Council, stated, "We chose to build something new, bigger and better. We decided that our greatest investment would be in our children." The program emphasizes personal development, values, emotional resilience, and social responsibility, aiming to create a continuous educational framework throughout the day where "every child to feel that they are seen, that people believe in them and that they have a place to grow, dream, succeed and fulfill themselves." The council has completed staff recruitment, viewing this as a crucial step in restoring normal life and fostering community recovery.