BEIRUT — Lebanon is racing to repair and rebuild hundreds of schools damaged by the recent conflict before the start of the new academic year in September, as the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned that at least 100,000 children could be left without access to classrooms if urgent work is not completed in time.
A nationwide assessment conducted in June by Lebanon's Ministry of Education and Higher Education, with technical support from UNICEF, found that 340 public, private and technical and vocational education institutions had been damaged, including 17 schools that were completely destroyed, according to the U.N. agency.
The assessment identified extensive damage across governorates including Nabatiyeh, South Lebanon, Bekaa, Baalbek-Hermel, Beirut and Mount Lebanon. While some schools sustained relatively minor damage, many require major rehabilitation or full reconstruction before they can safely reopen for students and teachers, UNICEF said.
"Schools are far more than buildings," UNICEF Representative in Lebanon Marcoluigi Corsi said in a statement. "They are places where children learn, feel safe, and begin to recover from crisis." He added that urgent investment was needed to rehabilitate damaged schools before the new school year begins.
UNICEF said the assessment provides the first comprehensive nationwide picture of damage to Lebanon's education system following the recent conflict. The survey was developed through the Transition and Resilience Education Fund with support from the European Union, Germany, France and Switzerland.
The agency warned that another prolonged disruption to schooling would compound years of educational interruptions caused by overlapping economic, political and security crises. It said extended absences from school increase the risks of learning loss, permanent dropout, child labour and early marriage.
UNICEF said it is working with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, donors and other partners to rehabilitate schools, maintain learning continuity and support broader education recovery efforts. However, it said the scale of destruction requires substantially greater financial support to restore safe learning environments before classes resume in September.
The ministry has not announced a change to the planned start of the academic year, leaving reconstruction efforts focused on meeting the September deadline. UNICEF said restoring schools is essential to ensuring children can safely return to education and continue their recovery after the conflict.
