HRW: Stop Politicizing Education for Syrian children in Lebanon

HRW has called on the Lebanese government to ensure that children are enrolled in schools regardless of their legal status, after local authorities and politicians in the country attempted to impose discriminatory restrictions that would deprive tens of thousands of Syrian refugee children of their right to education.

28 August, 2024 20:12

NEWS DESK

Before the start of the next school year, local authorities and politicians in Lebanon are attempting to impose discriminatory restrictions that would deprive tens of thousands of Syrian refugee children of their right to education, according to Human Rights Watch.

The organization referred to statements by some Lebanese politicians on social media platforms in which they demanded that the Ministry of Education in Lebanon require all students to submit identification documents to enroll in public and private schools for the 2024-2025 academic year, and who stressed that foreign students, including Syrians, must have valid residency permits in order to be able to enroll in schools.

In July and August, at least two Lebanese municipalities issued statements requiring Syrian children to have Lebanese residency in order to enroll in school, according to the organization.

With the start of the new school year, the organization called on foreign donors, who have provided large sums for education in Lebanon, to pressure the Lebanese government for enrolling all children, regardless of their nationality and legal status.

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ANHA