A food-allergy advocacy group has petitioned Israel’s High Court of Justice to halt a pilot program initiated by the Education Ministry that replaces dedicated medical-support aides assigned to children with severe allergies with a single nurse responsible for an entire school.
The pilot, set to begin in eight elementary schools, was detailed in the ministry’s response dated August 30, which was submitted alongside the petition. YAHEL – Food Allergy Counseling and Guidance, the group behind the petition, contends that the roles of dedicated aides and a single school nurse are not interchangeable. While acknowledging a nurse’s higher medical qualifications, YAHEL argues that one nurse cannot provide the continuous, close supervision currently offered by aides who remain near allergic pupils throughout the day.
The Education Ministry disputes this claim, asserting that the current aides possess limited medical training and that a qualified nurse can deliver more professional care, oversee preventative practices, and address health needs for all students, including older children who currently do not qualify for individual assistance. Ministry officials emphasized that the nurses would be actively engaged across the school, tasked with training staff, advancing allergen-safe environments, administering first aid, and responding to a range of medical conditions including allergies, epilepsy, and diabetes.
The disagreement came to a head with the start of the new school year on Tuesday after the ministry declined to pause the pilot program and reportedly did not answer several questions from YAHEL regarding implementation details. The association is seeking an immediate injunction to freeze the pilot and maintain the existing level of dedicated assistance pending the court’s consideration. It also demands a written guarantee that all eligible pupils will retain their current protection, full disclosure about the program’s operation, and an urgent meeting with Education and Health Ministry officials.
Under current policy, children in kindergarten and first grade with life-threatening allergies receive dedicated aide support throughout the school day. This assistance decreases to three hours daily in second grade and is discontinued from third grade onwards. The aides, while not medical professionals, monitor children during meals and breaks, help enforce allergen-safe policies, and respond to allergic reactions. YAHEL underscores that prevention through constant supervision—such as monitoring classroom food, preventing sharing, and accompanying children on outings—is critical. The group cautions that a nurse tasked with supervising an entire school may not be able to provide immediate oversight needed to prevent exposure prior to an emergency.
The ministry maintains the pilot aims to enhance care rather than reduce it. They referenced professional support from the Israel Association of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and consultation with the Health Ministry during program development. Furthermore, the ministry stated that children requiring invasive medical care, such as oxygen or gastrostomy feeding, would continue to receive existing assistance.
Beyond the efficacy question, YAHEL challenges the ministry over procedural transparency. The group alleges that Education Minister Yoav Kisch’s office proceeded without adequate consultation with parents of affected children, without securing their consent, and without providing sufficient information about the accompanying research component designed to evaluate the program. The ministry contends it acted transparently and held advance discussions with YAHEL chairwoman Orly Baz. However, Baz disputes this, stating in an affidavit that only a single meeting occurred on August 17 after the pilot was already formulated, and that the association was informed of the program’s possible implementation but was not properly consulted beforehand.
Requests for additional details regarding these discussions, parental consent, research oversight, and ethical approvals were reportedly redirected by the ministry to a freedom of information request. The petition names Minister Kisch, the ministry’s director-general, and the Education Ministry as respondents. The High Court is expected to review the petition as the dispute continues.