LEBANON (Enmaeya News) - October 17, 2025

The Lebanese government has decided to allow all Syrian refugee children, including those without legal papers, to enroll in public schools.

The new policy applies to the afternoon school shifts and aims to help thousands of children who have been out of school.

This move was confirmed by the Ministry of Education after the Cabinet approved it on October 9. It means that Syrian children can now be enrolled even if they don’t have a residency permit or refugee ID from the United Nations.

Schools will collect basic information like the child’s name, birth date, and parents’ names. This data will then be shared with Lebanon’s General Security.

Education Minister Rima Karameh said this step is important to make sure all children in Lebanon have access to education. She also noted that the data collected may help the government with future plans for the return of refugees to Syria.

UNICEF and other humanitarian groups welcomed the decision, saying it protects children’s rights. But some people are worried the decision will put more pressure on Lebanon’s already struggling public school system.

Public schools across the country have been told to begin enrolling undocumented Syrian children in afternoon classes between October 15 and 31.

Syrian children who arrived in Lebanon before 2011 can still attend morning classes with Lebanese students. However, Palestinian refugees continue to be educated through UNRWA.

This decision could improve access to education for many Syrian children, but it also raises questions about resources, capacity, and long-term planning.