The Education System for Refugees

This chapter explores the significant problems faced by Syrian and other refugees in accessing education and related services in Lebanon, which has led to one of the world’s most severe refugee crises. With over 1.5 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon, including more than 400,000 school-aged children, the Lebanese education system is under immense strain. The influx of refugees has exacerbated existing socio-economic issues, with around 90% of Syrian refugees living in extreme poverty. The Lebanese government, while committed to providing education irrespective of refugees’ legal status, struggles to accommodate the increasing numbers, resulting in high dropout rates and barriers to quality education for refugee children. Historically, Lebanon signed up to international conventions and domestic laws regarding refugees, and has subsequently hosted various refugee populations, including Palestinians since 1948. However, the recent influx has overwhelmed its already fragile infrastructure. Despite efforts such as the Reaching All Children with Education (RACE) initiative, significant gaps remain in policy and implementation, with many refugee children experiencing outright illegal situations such as child labour, child marriage and discrimination in terms of receiving inadequate learning resources. The legal context of accepting refugees is a complicated one; Lebanon is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, which complicates the status and rights of Syrian refugees. As the country grapples with its worst economic crisis in decades, the education system’s inability to effectively integrate refugee children poses long-term risks to their futures and Lebanon’s stability. This chapter aims to shed light on the educational experiences of refugees in Lebanon and especially the policy and governance issues since 2019, the policies affecting their access to education, and the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to address these pressing challenges.