As ongoing military operations leave roughly six percent of Lebanese territory under Israeli army control, approximately 100,000 schoolchildren in southern Lebanon face severe disruptions to their education, according to United Nations figures. More than 340 educational facilities have sustained damage, while 17 have been completely destroyed by the conflict, compounding years of institutional strain brought on by a severe national economic crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Partial School Reopenings Offer a Precarious Return to Routine in Nabatiyeh
In the Nabatiyeh region of southern Lebanon, classes have resumed for kindergarteners and older students at Ajyal School in Doueir. More than 1,300 pupils from preschool through the final year of secondary education have returned to the campus, situated less than ten kilometers from ongoing military activity. Daoud Harb, the director of the institution, noted that the reopening offers a vital sense of normalcy despite widespread local displacement. Harb stated that many attendees and staff members have lost their homes, yet returning to in-person learning remains essential for students and teachers alike.
Psychological Toll and Classroom Disruptions Persist for Students
Families in the region grapple with the psychological aftermath of sustained hostilities alongside the logistical challenges of the school year. Zeinab Safawi, a local parent who enrolled her two children at the school, highlighted the deep-seated anxiety experienced by the younger generation, questioning how many years recovery will require once hostilities cease. Inside the classrooms, academic focus remains frequently interrupted. Yara Ismael, a high school student from the nearby village of Zaoutar el Charqiyeh, reported that the sound of frequent detonations from occupied areas disrupts mathematics lessons and distracts students.
Contingency Planning Amid Continued Volatility
Although Doueir currently functions as a temporary educational hub, school leadership has established contingency plans to evacuate students further north if regional escalations intensify. Meanwhile, displaced populations across Lebanon continue to face widespread poverty as humanitarian conditions remain strained.
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