Lebanon: UNICEF sounds the alarm – 100,000 children risk missing a year of school

At least 100,000 children in Lebanon could find themselves without a school at the start of the next academic year, unless urgent measures are taken before September to repair and restore schools damaged by the recent conflict. This is according to UNICEF, which explains that a comprehensive nationwide assessment carried out by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in June revealed the devastating impact of the recent conflict on the Lebanese education system.

The analysis found that 340 state, private and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) schools had sustained damage, including 17 schools that were completely destroyed. The assessment was carried out with technical support from UNICEF through the Education, Transition and Resilience Fund (TREF), supported by the European Union, Germany, France and Switzerland. The damage affects many of the provinces hardest hit by the conflict, including Nabatiyeh, South Lebanon, the Bekaa, Baalbek-Hermel, Beirut and Mount Lebanon.

Some schools have suffered minor damage, but many require large-scale repairs or complete reconstruction before they can safely welcome pupils and teachers back. “Schools are much more than just buildings,” said Marcoluigi Corsi, UNICEF’s representative in Lebanon. “They are places where children learn, feel safe and begin to recover from the crisis. This assessment provides the first comprehensive picture of the extent of the damage suffered by the Lebanese school system. With the new academic year approaching, urgent investment is needed to repair damaged schools and ensure that children can return to their studies without delay,” he added. The findings come after years of repeated disruptions to children’s education in Lebanon, caused by a relentless succession of crises and conflicts. “For many children, another prolonged disruption to their learning would have lasting consequences for their education, well-being, mental health and future opportunities,” emphasises UNICEF, pointing out that “the lack of access to education also increases their vulnerability to protection risks, such as early marriage and child labour”.

“Every day a child is kept out of school, the risk of learning loss and dropping out increases,” added Corsi. “Education cannot wait for reconstruction to begin; it is an essential part of the reconstruction process itself. Restoring schools goes beyond repairing walls and classrooms: it restores hope and offers protection, giving every child the chance to learn and build their own future.”

UNICEF is working with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, donors and partners to support the restoration of schools, the continuity of learning and the resumption of education across Lebanon. “Although TREF donors have been providing significant support to the education sector for years, the scale of the damage requires a substantial increase in investment in order to restore safe learning environments before the start of the next school year,” warns UNICEF, which states that “every child has the right to study in a safe, secure and inclusive environment” and emphasises that “investing today in the recovery of the school system means investing in Lebanon’s children, its communities and its future”.