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The recent conflict in Lebanon, has had devastating consequences for the civilian population, including students and educators. Since September 2024, the severe Israeli bombing has affected over 500,000 students and more than 45,000 teachers according to UNESCO data. More than 70% of public schools and other educational establishments are currently non-operational, with 43% used as shelters. Education has been put on hold for over 41% of students, 57% of teachers, and 40% of those attending university. Talks of a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has renewed hope for the war-weary population.

We asked Manal Hdaife to tell us what the war has meant for education communities across her country. Manal is a school principal and member of the Public Primary Schools Teachers League in Lebanon, as well as a member of the Education International Executive Board and Chair of the Education International Arab Countries Cross-Regional Structure.

Worlds of Education: Manal, how is the situation on the ground in your country?

To be honest, there is no safe place in Lebanon. Over 1 million people have had to flee their homes because bombs are dropping from the sky. There’s a lot of damage everywhere, homes destroyed. We are in a real war and the war stays with you even when you leave. The sound of a plane fills me with fear, even when I am in a safe country for a few days.

At my school even the four- and five-year-old students have been affected. I had a student tell me: teacher, don't be afraid, that noise is thunder not a war airplane. How can we even imagine that, such a young student trying to help the teacher to not be afraid.

I remember in a cross regional meeting in Jordan, where our members were brought to tears watching a video from our colleagues from Palestine, I didn't imagine, at that moment that we would be facing the same situation in my country.

Worlds of Education: What has been the impact of the war on education communities in Lebanon?

As a unionist, I visited a lot of schools which were turned into shelters, and I have talked with a lot of displaced students and displaced teachers. And when I ask them, what is your message to the world, they all say: we want peace and we want to come back to our school, to our classes, to our teachers, to our daily life.

The impact has been devastating. In many places, it is simply not safe to keep schools open or school buildings are used as shelters. We had to choose between closing everything down for an undetermined period of time or trying to find a way of organising education that would mitigate the risks.

The Ministry of Education has adopted a collaborative approach and primary, secondary, and TVET unions were fully consulted on the development of the emergency response, to find solutions that would be realistic and feasible for staff. In general, the ministry has been flexible to accommodate the needs of traumatised students and staff.

The decision was made to postpone the beginning of the academic year to November 4th instead of September 28th in order to give us time to organise everything. In red zones like the south of the country, Beirut or Baalbek, teaching and learning shifted online to ensure the safety of students and educators.

In safe zones, 638 educational institutions have been turned into shelters. This is around 40% of public schools and TVET centers that can no longer be used for teaching and learning because they are hosting refugees.

In schools that are not shelters, a second and sometimes a third shift have been organised to accommodate displaced students. School directors have some flexibility in deciding if they shift to online learning or organise schooling in afternoon shifts in other institutions in safer locations.

In the worst moments, when the situation was unsafe everywhere, the Ministry of Education decided to do everything online.

Worlds of Education: Lebanon is host to thousands of Syrian refugees, with many Syrian children going to school here. What is their situation now?

Syrian refugees learn in dedicated shifts in Lebanese schools, but they haven’t been able to resume education yet. We hope to be able to start schooling for them again soon. The number of Syrian students has been going down because many have fled back to Syria. 170,000 Syrian students used to be registered in our schools but now only 100,000 remain which means they only need 100 schools and fewer teachers. With the lower number of students, some teachers will lose their jobs.

We are now beginning to register Syrian students for the new academic year, and many parents are calling us, school directors, because the children want to come back to school. Education is their right.

Worlds of Education: What has been the impact on members of your union and how has your union reacted to this crisis?

Many of our members have been affected, their houses have been damaged, some homes have been totally destroyed. Many have been displaced. Some have been killed or injured. Many of us have lost students.

Union members are volunteering to help their colleagues who are displaced. School directors have become shelter directors. We are visiting school shelters to understand people’s needs and our union is trying to get the names and phone numbers of displaced teachers from the ministry, to find and help them.

It’s been very traumatic, seeing our schools host so many people who have lost everything, classrooms turned into kitchens and bedrooms. Schools are made for students to learn, to have fun with their teachers. These are not spaces meant for people to live in.

Worlds of Education: What can education unions in other countries do to help? What is the role of international solidarity in helping you deal with this crisis?

First of all, I would like to thank Education international and all education unions for their support and solidarity. Your letters of support, your donations to the solidarity fund, your encouragement have meant the world to us.

What we need now more than anything is peace. When I visit the schools where people have taken shelter, all everyone wants is peace. When I speak to my students, all they want is to go back to their homes, to their schools, to their teachers, their normal lives. Peace is everything, democracy is everything. We have a right to be safe in our country.

Thank you to all unions who have advocated for their governments to join the global call for a ceasefire. We are very grateful for your support, but we need to keep advocating for a ceasefire and a lasting peace for the people of Gaza and Palestine as well. Their suffering continues.

Worlds of Education: As we witness the rise of violent conflicts around the world, what do you think is the role of the teaching profession and of education unions in ending the cycle of violence?

This is something we discussed in the Executive Board meeting and we all agree that as educators and as unionists, we have a great responsibility in shaping the educational process, in supporting both students and teachers to build peace in our societies. This must be a core priority for our global education movement.

If you want to help school communities in Lebanon, check the solidarity appeal launched by Education International available here.