Israel-Lebanon War Disrupts Education for 500000 School-Aged Children

Israeli attacks in Lebanon since March have displaced more than 1.2 million people, among them 500000 school-aged children, according to UNESCO. The operations followed an intensification of conflict on March 2, which came after Hezbollah responses to reported Israeli ceasefire violations.

Hundreds of schools have been affected, with 339 located in war zones, hundreds more used as shelters for displaced people and another 100 in high-risk areas. The disruptions have affected an education system already strained by economic crisis since 2019.

Schools have turned to online learning and other programs to maintain instruction. Education officials have also opened multiple shifts in public schools, established temporary learning centers and integrated psychosocial services for affected students.

Tala Abdulghani, a senior researcher at the Asfari Institute for Civil Society and Citizenship, said hybrid learning has become the norm due to repeated instability from the 2019 revolution, COVID-19, economic crisis and now the war. She added that it has often proven ineffective for vulnerable students because of limited internet access, electricity shortages, lack of devices and unstable living conditions.

Maysoun Chehab, senior education programme specialist at UNESCO, said children are losing routine, stability, friendships and normal life. Many carry trauma, anxiety and fear from repeated displacement, exposure to violence and prolonged instability.

Families face choices between basic needs and maintaining children's access to education, which has led to increased dropout rates, child labor and child marriage in some cases. Teachers have also been heavily affected. Public sector teachers saw their salaries decrease by about 80 percent due to economic crisis and currency devaluation.