The head of a Catholic school in Lebanon has said church-run schools in the conflict-torn country have welcomed displaced students despite their limited capacity to help.
Fr Mouin Saba, president of the Apostles School in Lebanon’s Jounieh, said that about 75 percent of Catholic schools in Lebanon are open despite the ongoing war with Israel, Catholic News Agency (CNA) reported on Oct. 14.
“If it becomes necessary, we will switch to remote learning,” Saba said while adding that around three-fourths of the Catholic schools were teaching in person.
“The main issue today is with public schools, not private ones. We thank God that our private Catholic schools are functioning well,” Saba told ACI Mena, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner.
Saba pointed out that schools in some regions, like the south and the Bekaa Valley, “as well as other areas prone to disruptions, have temporarily closed their doors due to recent challenges.”
According to the Lebanese Ministry of Education, roughly 40 percent of the country’s 1.5 million students have been displaced due to Israeli airstrikes.
Saba’s school, founded by the Congregation of Lebanese Maronite Missionaries, is welcoming displaced students, but he said displaced persons should be in locations regulated by the state.
“Because international aid Lebanon is receiving now is directed there or to NGOs [nongovernmental organizations], not to Catholic schools,” he explained.
He said it was important that aid coming from outside should actually reach the displaced.
“Aid needs to be organized, and its distribution must be handled seriously to ensure it reaches everyone,” Saba added.
He added that most Catholic schools are struggling as the country faces a significant economic crisis.
“The Christian community is rich in humanity, faith, and national spirit but is economically devastated,” Saba said adding that “human nature is prevailing, and people are sharing what is available.”
The Catholic schools in Lebanon play a vital role in the country providing an excellent level of education amidst ongoing internal and external conflict, said Noelle El Hajj, a middle school teacher.
“History seems to be repeating itself. I was a child during the Civil War. We often lost months of education and were forced to stay home due to the fighting,” El Hajj said.
“I don’t want the current generation to endure the same fate. The repercussions of poor or missed education are long-term and devastating,” El Hajj emphasized.
This ongoing conflict between Israel and Lebanon marks the sixth consecutive year of significant educational disruptions for Lebanese children.
According to the World Bank, the repeated interruptions in education are expected to have long-lasting effects, with recovery potentially taking generations, CNA reported.
Saba called for systemic solutions and comprehensive national action to rescue Lebanon from its current plight.
“Lebanon needs rescue, not just aid,” Saba said adding that the dignity of the nation must be restored through the restoration of the state.
Saba also pointed out the role played by Christians across various sectors, including hospitals, schools, and universities, and in the recent efforts to welcome and assist displaced individuals.
He also noted that significant voices from other sects in Lebanon, including the Druze, Sunni, and Shia, have recognized the Christian community for their contributions.
