The Education System and COVID-19

This chapter analyses the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Lebanon’s education system, which was already struggling due to pre-existing socio-economic challenges, political instability, and the Syrian refugee crisis. With the onset of the pandemic in February 2020, Lebanon faced a dual crisis: managing the public health emergency while navigating an already occurring economic collapse that saw the Lebanese Lira plummet and inflation soar. The Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE) mandated the closure of schools and institutions, disrupting education for more than 1.2 million school-aged children, including many refugees. COVID-19 affected Lebanon’s private and public education system in different ways, as explained in this chapter. The education landscape was further complicated by a projected influx of students transferring from private to public schools, which overwhelmed the already struggling public education system. The shift to remote learning encountered significant obstacles, including a lack of training for teachers, unreliable or non-existent internet access, and electricity shortages, which hindered effective online/digital education. Although initiatives for distance learning were implemented, many students, particularly those from vulnerable backgrounds, did not have adequate learning resources. The chapter also highlights the government response to the crisis, including efforts to contain the virus and manage healthcare resources, with some commentary on the Lebanese people’s resilience and ability to adapt to the situation through community support networks and increased reliance on digital tools, despite facing significant challenges such as poverty, discrimination, and inadequate health services.