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United States donates $45M to Lebanon education system

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — The United States Agency for International Development has added $45 million in funding over the next four years for education programs in Lebanon.

The new funding, announced at UNICEF, includes $145 million from the EU. USAID is making a $45 million investment in education over the next four years in Lebanon and up to $45 million by 2019 to improve teaching and learning processes nationwide in public schools in Jordan.

As part of the No Lost Generation initiative, the funding aims to strengthen the school systems between Syrian refugees and the Lebanese system.

“While the devastating crisis in Syria has robbed children of their homes, and in some cases their families, it doesn’t also have to rob them of their future,” USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah said at an event in New York Wednesday.

Already into the Lebanese school year, there are fewer Syrian refugee children in school than there were at this time last year. Lebanon’s education minister, Elias Bou Saab, said that he could get 200,000 children into school immediately if the donor community provided the necessary funds.

According to a statement from the agency, the new project will work on improving reading outcomes for primary-level public school student, strengthen Lebanese institutions to better monitor education and expand access to safe education for all children, including Syrian refugees.

With this latest donation, USAID will have contributed with $170 million in projects to the Lebanese public education sector, all in coordination with the Education Ministry and American educational institutions, according to the statement.

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Bou Saab warns Lebanese parents over limited school space

(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.

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Lebanese Examiner making a change in Lebanon

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — As many of you read on LebaneseExaminer.com, students at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK) were facing a drastic tuition raise of more than 21 percent.

The new policy would increase the price of one credit by $60, which calculates to a 21% overall tuition increase. Students would be expected to pay an extra $2,000 per year.

In support of university students during the ongoing economic crisis in Lebanon, the team at Lebanese Examiner decided to create an online petition on Change.org to demand a reversal of the tuition increase.

“As a student, parent, or supporter of USEK Kaslik, you are signing this petition to encourage the administration of the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), to reverse their decision to increase tuition rates this year,” the petition read.

Every time someone signs our petition, an email is automatically sent to University President Fr. Hady Mahfouz and Financial Administrator Fr. Georges Azzi demanding action.

To stand up with Lebanese students and demand a reversal of the tuition increase, click here to sign the petition.

Click here to read the original article.

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 Lifestyle, News

USEK students protest over tuition hike

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Students at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK) protested on the street facing their campus on Monday against a decision made by their university to increase tuition fees.

The new policy increases the price of one credit by $60, which calculates to a 21% overall tuition increase. Students will be expected to pay an extra $2,000 per year.

“We have been surprised, during the peak of the economic crisis in Lebanon, by this unjust decision by the university administration,” a statement released by

Protests continued through the night outside the USEK Kaslik campus.
Protests continued through the night outside the USEK Kaslik campus.

the students on Saturday said.

Students from all faculties organized and called for the 10 a.m. demonstration, demanding the immediate elimination of the “unfair” decision by the administration.

They held a sit-in closing the road, and refused to dissolve the protest until they received a promise by the USEK administration to reconsider its controversial decision, media reports said.

Students are upset because they are barely able to afford current tuition fees, even when they work two or three jobs in some cases, they say. They also complain of special privileges of relatives to Maronite Catholic priests, who receive discounted rates to attend USEK.

In an interview with LBCI, one student said that Christians are constantly encouraged to preserve their land, but this decision will “encourage us to do the opposite and sell land to pay for tuition.”

The Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK) is a private Catholic higher education institution, which was established by the Lebanese Maronite Order (LMO) in 1961.

You can help USEK students get their message to University administrators by signing the petition at this link.

LBCI Report:

MTV Lebanon Report:

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