Fact Sheet on Schools Rehabilitation in Beirut, September 5, 2020

Beirut Blast Impact on Schools and Universities

At least 163 public and private schools have been affected by the explosion, with severe to minor damages, affecting the continuity of learning for at least 85,000 learners, and requiring urgent rehabilitation, repair, and equipment replacement. Five Technical and Vocational compounds have also been affected, including 20 TVET schools and institutes damaged, including equipment. The negative impact on education goes beyond these physical damages. Increased risk of school dropout, increased vulnerability of marginalized and special needs children, and post-traumatic effects on learners put at risk the continuity of education. The Beirut explosion is compounded with the worst economic fall-out that the country has ever witnessed, on top of the world’s largest refugee crisis, and an ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that continues to impact the country.

Response

• Ministry formed the MEHE BEIRUT BLAST COMMITTEE with the aim of following up on school rehabilitation process, mechanism, and outcomes.
• UNESCO has been mandated the role of coordinating rehabilitation efforts including coordinating partnerships, finance, implementation, monitoring, and reporting.
• Damaged school assessment is ongoing by partners:

• Equipment damage assessment process has been launched in all public schools – expected completion date: September 7/2020.
• A meeting with the private schools has been organized, where needs and priorities have been articulated and discussed.
• To accelerate support for school rehabilitation and refurbishing, a meeting with private partners of the UNESCO Global Education Coalition was held on September 1st.
• UNESCO organized a high level visit of DG Azoulay to Beirut where the Li Beirut appeal has been launched to accelerate international response for school rehabilitation and remote learning.
• OCHA launched a call for interest expression and appeal in support to school rehabilitation and education facilities under the Beirut Blast Response.

Funding Update for Rehabilitation

Available funds are committed by: UNESCO, UNICEF, Education Cannot Wait, SWISS AID, Education Above All

The following Response Priorities have been identified by MEHE

• Complete school rehabilitation assessment for public, private, and TVET
• Complete equipment assessment for public, private, and TVET
• For GE, process rehabilitation and refurbishing works according to the following priority lines:

1. Priority one: all Secondary schools (low + moderate level of damage) by mid October 2020
2. Priority two: all Middle schools (low + moderate level of damage) by mid October 2020
3. Priority three: Primary schools (low + moderate level of damage) by mid October 2020

• Provide solutions to access remote learning: Devices + connectivity