(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — The Lebanese Education Ministry issued a warning to Lebanese parents on Monday, urging them to register their children in public schools before registration opens to non-Lebanese students.
“The registration rate of Lebanese students in public schools is still low until now, and the school year is set to start in a few days,” said Education Minister Elias Bou Saab in a released statement on Monday.
“The Ministry invites (parents) to reserve their children’s seats in public schools before the door is opened for non-Lebanese students to register,” he added.
The ministry has split school registration into two sections this year, prioritizing Lebanese nations before other groups, after it was clear the system could not handle the number of displaced Syrian children living in Lebanon.
The number of Lebanese students in public schools, according to last year’s numbers, is 275,000 while the number of refugee students is 400,000. Lebanese public schools can only accommodate 300,000 students in total.
Last week, Bou Saab announced a Cabinet-approved plan to garner international funds to help cover the cost of refugee students.
“There is an approved plan the ministry had prepared, estimated to cost $200 million for an additional 100,000 refugee students to be funded by international organizations,” he said last week, adding that only half the needed amount had been secured.