More than 2.5 million Israeli children went back to school on Monday, with about 180,000 attending first grade and 149,000 starting their last year of school, according to data released by the Education Ministry.

Some 340,000 children will begin their studies in kindergarten (mandatory year), and 193,000 in pre-kindergarten.

The ultra-Orthodox sector registered 582,000 pupils this year, with 579,000 registered in the Arab sector.

Around 248,000 teaching staff returned to work in 5,807 schools and 21,600 pre-schools throughout the country.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Education Minister Yoav Kisch arrived this morning at the Menachem Begin Elementary School in Nof Hagalil (the city was formerly known as Upper Nazareth) to greet the children.

“Menachem Begin loved the Land of I

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