In Lebanon, economic woes disrupt public schooling, leaving Sara Ahmed, a mother, struggling to explain the closures to her daughter, Lily, admitting, “I have no answers.”
The financial downturn started in late 2019. It has reduced the Lebanese pound‘s value by 98%.
This has cut teachers’ salaries and led to strikes. Hariri, a mother of four, says, “My children stayed home for three months last year.”
Her eldest, Menna, dreams of becoming a doctor. Yet, her educational future is uncertain.
Teachers earn between $150 and $300. Hariri joined a protest to support them. Her sons help their plumber father during strikes. He can’t afford employees anymore.
Multiple factors disrupt education here. These include the pandemic, the Beirut explosion in 2020, and economic troubles.
UNICEF states, “15% of families have stopped educating their children.” Also, some families send their kids to work.
School dropouts risk facing violence and poverty. So says Atif Rafique of UNICEF.
International donors like the World Bank could not cover teachers’ salary gaps recently. Education Minister Abbas Halabi confirms, “Public education faces risk.”
Human Rights Watch notes fewer school days now. “Another lost year would be catastrophic,” says researcher Ramzi Kaiss.
More students are enrolling in public schools. Private schools are now too costly for many.
Farah Kubar, a mother, states, “I want to fulfill my children’s dreams, but it’s getting harder each year.”
Background Lebanon’s Schools in Crisis
The decline in Lebanon’s public education isn’t new but has worsened since 2019. The economic crisis deepens the already existing issues.
International aid was a band-aid solution but is not sustainable. Education Minister Abbas Halabi’s admission about public education’s risk speaks volumes.
The surge in public school enrollments reflects the broader financial strain. Parents can no longer afford private schools, placing more stress on a crumbling system.
The future appears bleak without immediate intervention. Urgent systemic changes and renewed international support could be the last lifeline for Lebanon’s young learners.
With information from AFP