Lebanon’s Schools Caught in the Crossfire: A Crisis of Displacement and Education

The return of students to Lebanon’s public schools next week will be a logistical challenge, exacerbated by Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hezbollah. This issue is more than just overcrowding or resource management – it’s a symptom of a deeper crisis.

Israeli air strikes have destroyed infrastructure in villages like Froun, leaving thousands without basic necessities like water and electricity. The local school has become a makeshift market run by displaced residents who now reside there. Principal Abbas Makki estimates that over half his students will be unable to return for at least another week.

Securing dignified and safe alternative accommodation for those displaced is an ongoing effort. Maysoun Chehab, a senior education programme specialist with UNESCO, notes that schools cannot function as both shelters and normal learning environments simultaneously. This reality has consequences: delayed or reduced classroom capacity, forced evacuations, and potential further displacement.

The Lebanese government aims to ensure every student has access to schools for the upcoming academic year. However, the situation on the ground is complex. In some areas, displaced families have been moved from public schools to private facilities, while prefabricated classrooms are being constructed in other areas to accommodate students who would otherwise return to makeshift shelters.

The destruction of infrastructure and displacement of people are not unique to southern Lebanon; similar patterns have emerged across conflict zones worldwide. A 2020 report by the United Nations found that an estimated 35 million children were displaced globally due to conflict. The challenge facing Lebanon’s educators and policymakers is creating sustainable solutions for a crisis with no end in sight.

As Israel and Hezbollah maintain their fragile truce, the people of Lebanon need more than temporary fixes; they require a long-term commitment to rebuilding infrastructure, supporting displaced communities, and protecting the right to education. Schools reopening next week amidst war-torn landscapes underscore the broader context of this crisis: Lebanon is not just struggling to educate its children – it’s fighting for its very future.