Israel’s war creating a ‘lost generation’ of Lebanese students | Israel attacks Lebanon News
Beirut, Lebanon – Experts are warning that the ongoing conflict involving Israel has contributed to a lost generation of students in Lebanon, exacerbating societal disparities and undermining national unity.
The war has devastated educational infrastructure, particularly in southern Lebanon, where hundreds of schools have been destroyed, forcing many to become makeshift shelters for displaced families. According to reports, more than 1.2 million people have been displaced since Israel intensified its military actions in March, including approximately 500,000 school-aged children.
The conflict has left an education system already weakened by Lebanon’s severe economic crisis in further disarray. As many schools become inaccessible, approximately 339 institutions are currently located in or near conflict zones. Others have been repurposed as shelters, affecting access for an estimated 250,000 children.
To adapt, some schools have turned to online learning; however, education experts note that many students, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds, are falling behind. Tala Abdulghani, a senior researcher at the Asfari Institute for Civil Society and Citizenship, emphasized that hybrid learning has become common due to ongoing instability, but it presents challenges such as limited internet access, electricity shortages, and a lack of devices.
In response, the Ministry of Higher Education, in coordination with UNESCO, is exploring various initiatives. These include extending public school hours and creating temporary learning centers to help mitigate the crisis, alongside integrating mental health services. Maysoun Chehab, a senior education program specialist at UNESCO, expressed concern over the toll taken on children, who are losing stability and normalcy amid ongoing violence.
Despite these efforts, the situation remains dire. Experts point to rising poverty levels, which complicate families’ ability to provide for educational needs. Chehab noted that families are often faced with difficult choices between essential expenses like food and transportation or maintaining internet connectivity for education.
The education system in Lebanon was in distress even before the outbreak of hostilities in October 2023. The economic decline significantly impacted the middle class, with the Gini coefficient—a measure of income inequality—rising sharply in recent years. According to a 2024 study, Lebanon ranks among the top 1 percent of the most unequal countries globally.
Abdulghani highlighted the uneven impact of the war across the country, stating that educational inequality is deepening, particularly for children in conflict-affected areas. Many students in southern Lebanon have ceased attending school altogether due to insecurity and displacement.
The battle over educational adequacy also extends to teachers, who are bearing the brunt of the crisis. Ongoing economic hardship has reduced their wages and forced many to leave the teaching profession. Chehab noted that about 30 percent of public sector teachers have exited the field or left the country since 2019.
As Lebanon continues to grapple with these overlapping crises, it faces an urgent need for focused intervention. Experts agree that without significant structural changes, the long-term consequences for the nation’s youth could be profound and lasting.
