Several cities in Lebanon have barred Syrian refugee children from school

Several Lebanese municipalities have announced that only those Syrian refugee children whose parents have a residence permit will be able to attend school in the new school year. Refugee registration with the UN will not be enough.

There are over 800,000 Syrians living in Lebanon, only 20% of whom have a residence permit issued by the Lebanese security service. The attitude towards refugees from Syria in Lebanon is negative, many see them as one of the reasons for the deep economic crisis.

International law requires that all children have access to school. In 2023, donor nations allocated $40 million to Lebanon to ensure that children in need, including Syrians, can go to school.

Education Minister Abbas Halabi said Lebanon would honor its commitments under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states that all children, regardless of their status, have the right to schooling. Judging by the actions of municipalities, this is a declaration.