HIGHLIGHTS
There has been a 100 per cent increase in the enrolment of Syrian refugee children in schools over the last two years, with 158,000 enrolled for the new school year.
31,000 refugees evicted so far in 2016.
New report shows widespread violations against 250,000 domestic migrant workers in Lebanon.
Poverty deepening for Syrian refugees, with more than 70 per cent living below the poverty line according to a new assessment.
Refugee children start school year in Lebanon
Enrolment numbers are on the rise, but many young Syrians are still out of school
As the new school year kicks off in Lebanon, 158,000 Syrian children have enrolled in Lebanese public schools – more than in any previous school year since the start of the crisis. While this still falls short of the Education Ministry (MEHE) target of 200,000 Syrian children in school, it is an improvement over both the 2015-2016 school year, when 150,000 refugee children attended school, and the 2013-2014 school year, when less than half of that number were enrolled.
The numbers also show an encouraging increase in the number of vulnerable Lebanese children enrolled in schools, with almost 200,000 enrolled this year, just short of the MEHE target of 269,000.
Back to School campaign
“Ana Hader” – “I Am Ready” – is the slogan under which MEHE and its partners reaffirmed their commitment to ensure free access to education for all children in Lebanon – both Lebanese and non-Lebanese. The Back to School 2016 campaign was launched as part of MEHE’s Reaching All Children with Education (R.A.C.E.) strategy, launched in 2014 with support from donors, UN agencies and more than 60 local and international NGOs. This year, the Back to School campaign will cover the costs of school registration, parent’s fund fees, schoolbooks and stationary for all students – both Lebanese and refugees – for the first time in public schools. Registration is currently underway for all Lebanese and nonLebanese children in all public schools across Lebanon, with 300 schools offering second shift classes – 100 more than last year – to ensure that there are sufficient places for nonLebanese students.
Barriers to education
Although enrolment numbers are increasing at an encouraging rate, many children are still outside the educational system. Education partners estimate that approximately half of all school-age Syrian children – around 233,000 – are currently out of school in Lebanon.
Challenges to school enrolment for Syrian refugee children include the language barrier, the steep learning curve for children who have been out of school for years, additional costs such as uniforms and transportation, and requirements including identification cards or vaccination booklets.