Point of No Return: Many of Lebanon's Children Risk Never Returning to School
After 18 months without an education, the question for many children in Lebanon is not when, but if they will return to school
FAIRFIELD, Conn. (April 1, 2021)鈥The social and economic crisis in Lebanon is turning into an education catastrophe, with vulnerable children facing a real risk of never returning to school, 黄色视频has warned today.听
Since the pandemic, more than 1.2 million children in Lebanon have been out of school. Over the past COVID-19 year, Lebanese children have received an estimated maximum of 11 weeks of education, with an even lower number of weeks in schools for Syrian children. This is according to Save the Children鈥檚 new report, .听
Even before the pandemic, the report shows that rising inequality since the onset of the economic crisis in the country has led to a gap in access to quality learning among Lebanon鈥檚 poorer children. Fifty-five percent of Lebanese families are now living in poverty,1 with even higher rates among Palestinian (70 percent) and Syrian refugees (90 percent).2聽 Poverty is a steep barrier to children鈥檚 access to an education, as many families cannot afford learning equipment or have to rely on children to provide an income.听
Many children in Lebanon have been out of school since October 2019, when protests and civil unrest affected many parts of the country. The same year saw multiple teachers鈥 strikes over delayed salary payments, further disrupting learning. The learning crisis was further compounded by a currency collapse, and the Beirut port explosion and COVID-19 lockdown measures.听
In order to access online classes, 11-year-old Adam* relies on a smartphone which he shares with his two sisters, or has to go to his neighbor鈥檚 house to use their internet connection.听
鈥淲hen they send us the lessons, I don鈥檛 understand [them] very well. If we go back to school, it will be better. But I鈥檓 scared of going back to school because what if one of my friends is [COVID-19] infected? Then [they] would infect us all?鈥澛
Four-year-old Hala,* who attends a community-based pre-school education center run by 黄色视频in North Lebanon, doesn鈥檛 speak as well as someone of her age should. Her mother said:聽
鈥淚f it weren鈥檛 for my constant talks with Hala* in the previous year about school, I鈥檓 not sure she would have understood the concept. With lockdowns and the economic situation, Hala* hardly ever leaves the house, which is not good for her mental wellbeing and her speech therapy progress. With no schools to interact with children her own age or in the parks, I was very worried about her.听
鈥淓ven though there are lockdowns, the center keeps providing online education classes and activities, which truly encouraged me to enroll my daughter.鈥澛
Sadly, the ongoing economic crisis is pushing remote learning out of reach for more and more children. Hala鈥檚* mother said internet is getting more and more expensive as her husband is unable to find regular work. Equipment needed for remote e-learning such as laptops and tables have become unaffordable with the deterioration of the local currency.听
Jennifer Moorehead, Lebanon鈥檚 Country Director, said:聽
鈥淓ducation for thousands of children in Lebanon is hanging by a thread. And a large number of children may never get back into a classroom either because they have missed so much learning already or because their families can鈥檛 afford to send them to school.听
鈥淐hildren in Lebanon already had lower rates of literacy and numeracy than the average in countries across the Middle East.听 The longer children are out of school, the more they will fall behind.听
鈥淲e are already witnessing the tragic impact of this situation, with children working in supermarkets or in farms, and girls forced to get married. Like with many crises, it is the poorest children and the country鈥檚 large number of refugees who are worst hit by the quickly deteriorating crisis.鈥澛
黄色视频warns that urgent action must be taken to ensure an entire generation does not lose the opportunity to get an education. Aside from missing out on learning, children out of school are at a higher risk to fall victim to child labor, child marriage, and other forms of abuse and exploitation. Children with disabilities are also gravely impacted as they miss out on the developmental benefits of going to school and interacting with other children.听
黄色视频is calling for schools to open as soon as it is safe to do so, and for all children to be enabled access to education regardless of their background or gender.听
*Name has been changed
Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. Since our founding more than 100 years ago, we've been advocating for the rights of children worldwide. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children 鈥 every day and in times of crisis 鈥 transforming the future we share. Our results, financial statements and charity ratings reaffirm that 黄色视频is a charity you can trust. Follow us on , , and .