Education Minister announces November 4 as official start of scholastic year, allowing private schools to assume distance learning or obtain parent committees’ approvals to resume in-person classes

Caretaker Minister of Education and Higher Education, Abbas al-Halabi, held a press conference at his ministerial office this afternoon, in the presence of the Director General of Education, Imad al-Achkar, media advisor Albert Chamoun, the Minister's advisor for higher education affairs, Dr. Nader Hdayfeh, and a group of media professionals. The press conference was devoted to the issue of saving the school and university academic year in Lebanon, whereby the Education Minister referred to the complex security, military, political, economic, and health conditions prevailing at this stage, and their direct repercussions on the entire education sector, which entailed extensive consultations with the educational community in all its components, with national and security authorities, and with international bodies from the United Nations organizations and donor and supporting bodies. Al-Halabi explained that these deliberations aimed to secure support for the Education Ministry's plan to save the academic year, based on the determination not to waste the school or university year no matter how harsh the circumstances. In this context, Minister al-Halabi announced that the start of the school year in primary and secondary public schools, and in public vocational schools, has been set for Monday, November 4, 2024, after completing preparations, whether to assume learning in-person, remotely, or in a hybrid manner, in implementation of the plan prepared by the Education Ministry. As for private schools, the Minister indicated that they are permitted to provide distance learning according to their available capabilities while urging school administrations to be aware of the risks resulting from the state of war if in-person classes are to be resumed. Hence, he asked these administrations to obtain the approval of the parents' committees to this effect and to sign a pledge prepared by the Ministry assuming full responsibility for their decision to resume in-person learning. Referring to private universities in Lebanon , Minister al-Halabi announced the possibility of resuming classes starting tomorrow, Monday, based on their administrations' decisions, with the permission to adopt distance learning in all its forms to ensure access to students in various regions, especially those who have been displaced. "The Education Ministry confirms that returning to in-person learning, in whole or in part, is up to the university administration to decide upon in full responsibility, taking into account the risks resulting from the current situation," al-Halabi said. 'As Minister of Education and Higher Education, I affirm our keenness to save the school year and to work with all our strength, support, and cooperation with the loyalists, to deliver education to all learners at all levels and within all types of education. We also hope that the displacement period will not be prolonged, that stability will be restored, and that alternative centers will be found instead of public schools to receive the displaced until they return to the ir homes," al-Halabi underlined, hoping for a ceasefire to be reached to stop the enemy's aggression and secure the safety of students, members of the teaching staff and honorable parents. Source: National News Agency - Lebanon