Universities say they may start upcoming semester with online classes |
Most universities plan to begin their spring semesters as scheduled next week or soon after, though they are planning for the possibility that they will have to initially rely on distance learning due to the ongoing war with Iran.
Only Tel Aviv University has said so far that it will be postponing classes for a significant period, announcing Sunday that its spring semester will commence on April 12, after the Jewish holiday of Passover, rather than the planned opening date of March 15.
Tel Aviv University said the delay was designed to help students called up for military reserve duty and unable to attend classes, “in the expectation that by then they will have completed their reserve duty and will be able to return to campus and fully join the second semester.”
The IDF has mobilized 100,000 reservists amid the ongoing conflict with Iran. Most Israelis attend university after completing their compulsory army service and are therefore subject to being called up for reserve duty during their studies.
Many students have been significantly impacted by the long periods spent in the reserves since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, which sparked the two-year war in Gaza, and universities have been working to offer them support, with deadline extensions, makeup classes and more.
Bar-Ilan University said it was........