Education in Lebanon is witnessing a severe deterioration, exacerbated by the ongoing political and economic crises, as many families struggle to afford school fees due to the challenging living conditions.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) previously warned of the increasing dangers to various aspects of children’s lives due to the worsening crises in Lebanon.
According to UNICEF’s assessment at the end of 2023, titled “Trapped in the Vortex of Collapse,” political and economic crises are increasingly depriving children of education, forcing many of them into the workforce.
Salma El-Hajj, a Lebanese university professor, explained that the political crisis has clearly affected the economic and living conditions of millions of Lebanese who are experiencing a multifaceted and severe crisis, one of the worst in the country’s recent history.
This crisis has been categorized as one of the three worst crises globally since the mid-19th century, according to a report by the World Bank.
El-Hajj emphasized that the phenomenon of school dropout and the deprivation of thousands of children from education is one of the most dangerous consequences of Lebanon’s current political and economic situation.
This situation stems from many families’ inability to pay school fees in the face of difficult living conditions.
According to UNICEF estimates, 26% of families do not send their children to school, a percentage that has risen from 18% in April 2023.
Additionally, dozens of schools in southern Lebanon have closed due to military escalations, affecting more than 6,000 students.
Lebanese writer Salma El-Hajj noted that the majority of families prioritize providing food and drink as a vital necessity over education.
This shift is a natural consequence of the devaluation of the Lebanese pound and the fact that many families have fallen below the poverty line due to the worsening situation on multiple fronts.
Consequently, children under the age of 18 are being sent to the workforce to secure their daily needs.
El-Hajj highlighted other dimensions of Lebanon’s education crisis, such as brain drain resulting from economic hardships and occasional strikes by teachers demanding their financial rights.
Lebanon now faces a real catastrophe in the education sector, which used to be one of the country’s main pillars alongside security, the military, and banks.
