Lebanon kids struggle to keep up with studies as war slams school doors shut
In a classroom that no longer functions as one, Ahmad Melhem sits with a tablet, following a recorded lesson while families move quietly behind plastic curtains.
The space, once meant for learning, is now a shelter.
The 17-year-old is among hundreds of thousands of students in Lebanon whose education has been disrupted as conflict between Hizbollah and Israel forces schools to shut and communities to flee.
Displaced from Beirut’s southern suburbs following repeated bombardments, Ahmad and his family now share a cramped space with others, where mattresses, blankets and cooking equipment have replaced desks and whiteboards.
Yet, amid the disruption, he continues to study.
“I don’t want to regret not finishing my studies despite the difficult circumstances,” he said, adding that his family even returned briefly to their home to retrieve schoolbooks.
Across Lebanon, the scale of disruption is significant.
According to Unicef, nearly half a million students are currently out of school, with more than 350 public schools repurposed as shelters. Others, particularly in areas affected by air strikes, have been forced to close entirely.
For those able to continue learning, the experience is far from ideal.
Ahmad’s school resumed online classes weeks after the conflict began, but access remains inconsistent. Internet connection is limited, and the crowded environment makes it difficult to focus.
“In-person class is better and more engaging,” he said, recalling group work and science projects he now misses.
The challenges are even more pronounced for younger children.
In the same shelter, a mother guides her eight-year-old son through online lessons, struggling to keep his attention amid the distractions around them.
For many families, the lack of devices, unreliable internet and limited resources have widened what experts describe as a growing digital divide.
Some students share a single phone among siblings. Others do not have access to basic learning tools.
Unicef has raised concerns about the long-term impact, particularly for teenagers preparing for higher education. There are also fears that prolonged disruption could lead to increased dropout rates, especially among girls who face additional risks such as early marriage.
Despite these challenges, many families remain determined.
For them, education is more than routine. It is a sense of normalcy, and a hope for something beyond the conflict.
Even as uncertainty continues, it is one of the few things they are still holding on to.
