LEBANON - Lebanon’s Minister of Education and Higher Education, Rima Karami, issued Circular No. 17/2026 on Tuesday outlining new measures to ensure the continuity of education amid the country’s ongoing crisis.
The directive comes as the conflict has forced thousands of families to flee their homes, disrupted schooling across several regions, and led to the closure of numerous educational institutions.
Several public schools have also been converted into shelters for displaced families, complicating efforts to maintain regular classroom instruction.
In the circular, the Ministry acknowledged the stark disparities currently affecting students across Lebanon. While some pupils have been displaced and lost temporary stability, others remain in their communities but face psychological and social stress linked to the war.
Meanwhile, students in relatively stable areas are still able to attend classes, and some are enrolled in foreign academic programs tied to international examination schedules that cannot be adjusted locally.
Minister Karami stressed that “educational equity cannot be achieved through a single approach for everyone,” noting that the ministry would adopt flexible measures tailored to the varying conditions faced by students and schools.
Under the new guidelines, private schools, technical institutes, and secondary institutions are required to continuously assess the security conditions in their areas and determine the most appropriate mode of learning.
Schools may adopt in-person, remote, or hybrid education models depending on local circumstances and after consulting with parents.
When in-person classes are possible, institutions must ensure that students unable to attend due to displacement or security concerns can continue their studies through synchronous online learning or other distance education methods.
Public schools, many of which are currently housing displaced people or remain on standby to serve as shelters, will primarily transition to remote learning in the coming weeks starting Tuesday, March 10.
The ministry said it would issue further instructions depending on developments on the ground, including the potential partial return to in-person or hybrid learning where conditions allow.
