All over the world, school is where children make friends, build childhood memories and prepare for their future. However, in Lebanon, a country that has experienced crisis after crisis in recent years, many children are excluded from this life-shaping opportunity.
Usually, refugee children have faced many challenges in accessing quality education due to financial barriers, discrimination, limited school capacity and a lack of civil documents. But amid the worsening crisis, Lebanese children are also increasingly dropping out of school.
An analysis over 3 years shared by the ministry of education shows a 13% decrease in Lebanese children attending school. The study also shows a 13% increase in Syrian refugee children attending formal education.
Together with partners such as NRC and War Child, EU humanitarian aid continues to help vulnerable out-of-school children with basic literacy and numeracy classes, accelerated learning and other non-formal education.
When needed, they also help get their documentation in order since the lack of previous school certificates is a common barrier to enrolment.
We also fund child protection programmes addressing child labour among other issues, which support both refugee and vulnerable Lebanese children. In addition, EU development programmes also help Syrian and Lebanese children access formal education.
The goal is for the children to integrate into the public school system, but their stories show that barriers are not easy to overcome.
Yehya
Hazar
Mohammed
Wael
Cyrine
Mostafa
Imad
Story by Zaynab Mayladan for NRC & War Child.
Publication date: 24/01/2023
