UNICEF is supporting the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE) to get about 387,000 children in Lebanon - including children living in shelters and communities affected by the war – gradually back to learning starting today, 4 November 2024. This initiative is part of an emergency response plan to support the opening and operation of 326 public schools not used as shelters by IDPs to ensure school-age children in Lebanon have access to education.
The response plan is designed to provide essential educational support to all children during these challenging times and to support public schools to operate.
These schools will receive essential funding from the Lebanese Ministry of Education/UNICEF Transition Resilience Education Fund (TREF) to ensure they have the necessary teaching materials, such as textbooks, and can offer vital psychosocial support and health screenings to help children cope with the effects of the conflict.
“The negative impact of the conflict on children, teachers and schools is already catastrophic and must be turned around immediately to prevent a lost school year which would jeopardize children’s wellbeing, their protection, future prospects and the country’s recovery,” said UNICEF Representative in Lebanon Edouard Beigbeder. “Going back to school is not only essential for a child’s learning and development; it also provides them with much needed social and emotional stability during this challenging time”.
The new school year was originally scheduled to start in the first week of October but was delayed due to the war. Resuming education in public schools presents significant challenges as about 60 per cent of shelters for displaced families are in schools, and many teachers and students have been forced to relocate far from their usual schools.
With UNICEF support, the 326 public schools will deliver quality in-person and blended learning opportunities to help children and youth catch up and continue their learning journeys. Online learning through MEHE’s digital platform will also be available.
The integration of special interventions for children with disabilities, girls, and refugees will be vital to ensure every child has the opportunity to learn.
“While we work to protect children from harm and support them to continue learning, it is imperative that school buildings and other civilian infrastructure are safeguarded during this period,” said Beigbeder. “Every child has the right to an education. UNICEF renews its call for an immediate and long-lasting ceasefire to allow children to get back to their learning and their lives”.
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