Unfavorable physical conditions in schools are also hurting public education.
In an open letter published in January, Nagham Beydoun, a teacher with Save the Children in Lebanon, and Gwen Hines, chief executive of Save the Children UK, pointed out the many challenges for schools trying to reopen after the winter break. These included the lack of heating in areas where temperatures fall below freezing, and the lack of computers and other school equipment.
Save the Children estimated that over 1.3 million children were affected by school closures over the past year, and more than 700,000 were kept out of school.
Unicef has warned that children face an increased risk of violence, exploitation and abuse as families cope with rising poverty.
Manal Hdaife summed up the challenges her school is facing: “There is no electricity, there is no Internet, there is no money.”
“The economic and social situation is affecting everyone,” Hdaife said. “The situation is desperate and the whole school triangle, of students, teachers, and parents, is suffering.”
The lack of financial and material resources, coupled with an increase in the number of Covid-19 cases, is also making health safety measures more complicated.
“Because the classrooms are packed with students, it is almost impossible to have social distancing,” said Hdaife. “However, we do our best to contact parents to make sure no one has symptoms, and all teachers keep their masks in the classroom.”
Online learning was possible for most of her students last year, Hdaife said, but “it will be much more complicated this year with the lack of electricity and Internet.”
Private Schools Face Losses, Too
While the public sector has been affected the most, the private sector has lost resources, too. Hassan, a teacher at a private school in Beirut who asked to remain anonymous, said many people are leaving the country.
“There is a feeling of disgust, resignation and fear about the future of the country,” he said. “All those who could leave, with double nationality or family abroad, took this opportunity.”