Tyre: As Lebanon prepares to reopen schools on September 15, thousands of children displaced by the war face another uncertain school year, with some still living inside the very schools where they are supposed to study.
In the southern city of Tyre, public schools have become shelters for families who fled villages that were damaged, destroyed or remain inaccessible because of the continuing security situation. For these children, classrooms and school halls have become places to sleep rather than places to learn.
More than 340,000 people remain displaced across Lebanon, according to the latest Reuters report. About 21,000 displaced people are still living in collective shelters, including schools and other public buildings.
The number of displaced people has fallen significantly from the peak of the conflict. But many families have not been able to return home because their houses have been damaged or destroyed, while some communities in southern Lebanon remain unsafe or inaccessible.
The pressure is particularly visible in schools.
Nearly 80 public schools were still being used as shelters as the new academic year approached. The Education Ministry said nearly half had already been vacated so they could be used for classes. About 30 schools are expected to reopen partly while continuing to accommodate displaced families, while nine schools were still being used entirely as shelters.
The Education Ministry is working to move displaced families to alternative locations so schools can reopen for students. Education Minister Rima Karami has said displaced families should not be removed from schools without an alternative being offered.
During a visit to southern Lebanon on September 2, Karami said the priority was to maintain in person education wherever possible. She also said some schools would need to use remote learning or other arrangements depending on local conditions.
In Burj Qalaway, 17 prefabricated classrooms are planned to provide space for students after the village school was destroyed.
But reopening schools is not only a question of moving families out of buildings.
A nationwide assessment conducted by Lebanon's Ministry of Education and Higher Education with technical support from UNICEF found in June that 340 public, private, technical and vocational schools had been damaged. Seventeen of those schools were completely destroyed.
UNICEF warned in July that at least 100,000 children could be left without a classroom when the new academic year begins unless urgent action is taken to repair and restore damaged schools.
The damage affects several parts of the country, including Nabatieh, South Lebanon, Bekaa, Baalbek Hermel, Beirut and Mount Lebanon. While some schools suffered minor damage, many require extensive repairs or complete reconstruction before they can safely receive students and teachers.
For many children, the disruption is part of a much longer period of instability.
Lebanon's education system has already been weakened by years of economic crisis, the COVID 19 pandemic, the 2020 Beirut port explosion and repeated conflict. The latest conflict has added another major interruption to children's education.
Save the Children Lebanon country director Nora Ingdal has estimated that some children have suffered at least four years of learning loss as repeated crises have interrupted their education.
Remote learning has provided an alternative for some pupils, but it remains difficult for many displaced families. Poor internet connections, limited electricity and a lack of devices can make online classes difficult to follow. In some families, several children may have to share one device.
For children living in shelters, the difficulties go beyond schoolwork. Many face overcrowding, limited privacy and uncertainty about when they can return home.
Humanitarian organisations also organise activities for children living in the shelters, giving them opportunities to play and take part in activities while they wait for a more permanent solution.
For some children, a school that should be a place for learning has instead become their temporary home.
The wider displacement crisis has eased from its peak, with hundreds of thousands of people returning to their areas of origin. But returning does not always mean that life has returned to normal.
Damaged homes, disrupted water and electricity supplies, limited services and continuing insecurity remain obstacles for many families. In southern Lebanon, ongoing security concerns continue to affect communities and schools.
As September 15 approaches, the challenge is not only to reopen Lebanon's schools but also to find safe alternatives for families who are still living in them. For displaced children, returning to the classroom will depend on whether there is a safe place for them to learn and a safe place for their families to live.