This is a draft model for an affordable  private Yeshiva School, which can be integrated into existing school structures, or the basis for building new ones.

It has been designed by me with input from people currently in the education and financial space, but it obviously only an estimate and will need to be adapted to the realities of each school and community.

Specifications:

I. every group of 20 learners  needs 2.5 hours a day of frontal learning from  a real time teacher ( either online or offline) for kodesh and another 2.5 for secular studies and the balance can be done by very cheap existing online resources such as  yuTorah,mishnarun, master maths, kahn academy etc, as well as in chavrutot/self-study groups,coordinated  by the teachers and menahel

2. each teacher teaches 5 hours a day in person and/or online and spends another 3 hours  a day on prep and marking,  using online resources, testing, and marking methods to reduce the workload and maximize efficiency.

3. Every 120 learners needs a menahel/principle to oversee the curriculum,support  manage the teachers and online material, train teachers for the new environment, oversee the ethos of the institution, and look after the holistic needs of the learners

4. Every 600 learners should have a Rosh Yeshiva/Head of School who is a major Talmid Chacham with a strong secular and administrative background.

His task is to be the “glue” of the entire operation, a role-model for all students, give weekly talks/classes to different groups of students, support and supervise menahalim/principals.

5. Every two principles/menahalim or 240 learners have a secretary/P.A./administrator/book-keeper assigned to them – this task will include ensuring all fees have been paid and referring the hopefully small minority who cannot afford these reduced fees to community organizations for scholarships. All payments and book-keeping to be done online and automated.

6. every 240 learners have a sports coach AND a social worker/councillor assigned to them.

7. Schools use existing campuses that are already mainly owned and paid-off by the schools or by the community. Costs are limited to maintenance of existing facilities, and any additional building or renovations are covered by private donations.

An online version of this model will exclude most of  this component of the expenses but still have the benefit of real-time “Zoom-style” instruction by real Rebbeim and teachers, in an interactive peer-based online environment.

Proposed Costs: 

1.  a Rebbe/teacher earns a cost to company package of $7500 per month in the U.S. or R30,000 per month in South Africa.

At one Rebbe/teacher assigned to every 20 learners, This comes to $375 per learner in the U.S. and R1500 per learner in South Africa.

2. A principal/menahel is needed for every 120 learners  and earns $15,000 per month  in the U.S. or R50,000 per month in South Africa.

This comes to $125 per learner in the U.S. and R417 per learner in South Africa/

3. A Rosh Yeshiva/Head of School is required for every 600 learners and earns $25,000 per month in the U.S. or R100000 per month in South Africa .  This superstar needs to be a Talmid  Chacham with a good secular education, long succesful track record in education, and majors  in finance plus either  management science, actuary, operations research , computer  science or similar .

This comes to $42 per learner in the U.S. and R167 per learner in South Africa/

4. A secretary/P.A/book-keeper  will be needed for every two heads (240 learners)  at $4000  per month in the U.S. and R20,000 per month in S.A.

This comes to $17 per learner in the U.S. and R83 per learner in South Africa/

5.   a sports coach is needed for every 240 students at $5000 per month (U.S.) or R25,000 per month (S.A.)

This comes to $21 per learner in the U.S. and R104 per learner in South Africa/

6.a social worker/councillor will be needed for every 240 learners  at $7500 per month ( U.S) or R30,000 per month (S.A.)

This comes to $32 per learner in the U.S. and R125 per learner in South Africa/

7. Miscellaneous costs: Campus maintenance, stationary, internet, accounting fees etc ( i have guessed this and more input is needed)- $10000 per month ( U.S.) or R40000 per month ( S.A. ) based on 240 learners  

This comes to $42 per learner in the U.S. and R167 per learner in South Africa

Total monthly costs per learner: $654 (in the U.S.) or R 2563 (in S.A.)