LEBANON – The Minister of Education and Higher Education, Dr. Reema Karamy, convened the fourth meeting of the Ministry’s Emergency Committee, attended by Director General of Education Fadi Yarak and heads of regional and unit offices.

During the session, Minister Karamy briefed participants on the coordination efforts being conducted through the Disaster Management Authority at the Prime Minister’s Office, alongside relevant ministries and organizations operating on the ground.

She emphasized that the authority to open schools for emergency shelter purposes remains exclusively with the governors, based on a pre-approved list of schools whose buildings are safe and free from structural hazards, ensuring they can accommodate families without risk.

The Minister reviewed with regional directors the current needs of schools and listened to their assessments and recommendations.

She noted that she had coordinated with the Minister of Interior and Municipalities to maintain security and to allocate shelter centers according to the jurisdictions of security forces responsible for ensuring safety.

Minister Karamy also stressed the importance of aligning data regarding the locations of displaced students, highlighting the need to guarantee their continued educational follow-up during the displacement period.

“The school building is our home,” Minister Karamy said. “We must all preserve it and its contents so it can serve families in times of emergency while remaining suitable for resuming education once the crisis ends."