Lebanon: More than 70 Educational Institutions Still Used as Shelters

Beirut - Afaq News - The Lebanese Ministry of Education announced that more than 70 official educational institutions are still being used today to shelter displaced persons, which has hindered the start of in-person education in some areas.

The ministry's media office stated in a statement that the academic year began on September 15 in most Lebanese regions, while the exceptional circumstances resulting from the continued use of several official schools as centers for sheltering displaced families prevented the start of in-person education in some areas at the same time. It added that the ministry was keen not to return any school to its educational function at the expense of the displaced families' right to safe and adequate shelter.

The statement continued that a plan has been developed to consolidate shelter centers in cooperation between the ministries of social affairs and interior, as well as relevant bodies and organizations, to improve the conditions of shelter and services provided to the displaced while gradually vacating schools and returning them to their primary function as educational institutions.

It clarified that in the Tyre area specifically, where a large percentage of official schools were used as shelter centers, achieving this balance posed a fundamental challenge. Therefore, the Ministry of Education collaborated with the governorate, relevant authorities, the Tyre Municipal Union, emergency teams, and organizations and associations working on the ground to find alternative centers and equip them to provide adequate conditions for displaced families, while allowing for the reopening of as many schools as possible for local and displaced students.

The statement indicated that the Ministry of Education has made part of its educational buildings available to the emergency committee to help provide alternative locations, facilitating the gradual evacuation of several official schools and returning them to their educational function.

The statement concluded by saying that the goal is not to choose between shelter and education, but rather to work together to secure both. Afaq News: Protecting the dignity of displaced families and ensuring decent conditions for them, while at the same time gradually returning schools to their educational mission so that as many of our children as possible can return to their classrooms and learn in person.