Fact Sheet on Schools Rehabilitation in Beirut, October 8, 2020

Beirut Blast Impact Updates

Public Schools

MEHE needs assessment of school equipment is finalized. The assessment identifies specific items needed per school under the three categories of Equipment (computers and laptops, printers, photocopiers, smart boards, UPS, telephones, cameras, projectors, DVD players, ACs, kitchen facilities, etc.); Furniture (desks, chairs, cabinets and lockers, tables, curtains, carpets, etc.); and Labs (physics, biology and chemistry). Funding requirements for these items are detailed in the table below and have already been secured by UNESCO with funding from Education Cannot Wait (ECW), and by UNICEF with funding from the Italian Government.

The “Achrafieh Third Mixed Intermediate Public School” is the only public school that will not be able to operate in the 2020- 2021 academic year. Students have been already relocated to other neighboring public schools.

Private Schools

Needs assessment of private schools by UN-Habitat is ongoing. Findings now reveal that 109 private schools have been impacted by the blasts. The assessment does not cover equipment and furniture. The estimated cost for rehabilitation is USD 17M, around half of which is required for the rehabilitation of 4 schools considered cultural heritage sites.

Public TVET Schools and Institutes

The UNICEF needs assessment of TVET facilities has been finalized and will be released soon.

Higher Education Sector

The higher education sector in Lebanon encompasses the public Lebanese University and 48 private universities. Following the Beirut blasts, MEHE requested universities to share their preliminary assessment results of damages. UNESCO carried out a rapid assessment based on the collected reports from universities, which focused on physical damages that resulted from the blast, including buildings, infrastructure, and equipment.

In summary, 32 universities located within a 10-km radius from the explosion were affected by the blasts, with severe to minor destructions. The total costs for rehabilitation, including laboratories and equipment, are estimated at USD 14,064,219.66. Other costs related to supporting distance learning and psychosocial support to students and teachers are not included.

Response

• Following the completion of the needs assessment, MEHE is developing the specifications related to equipment and furniture. Procurement of these items should be delivered to schools directly.
• The MEHE Beirut Blast Committee and UNESCO held a meeting with private school representatives, on Tuesday September 22, to exchange information and updates on school rehabilitation status and process. Given that some schools have already started or completed their rehabilitation works, a follow-up survey was sent by UNESCO and MEHE to gather information on the status of rehabilitation. Initial results indicate that out of the 109 private schools, 39 have started executing their rehabilitation works, including 12 that have completed them.
• UN-Habitat assessment of private schools is ongoing and should be released by the end of the week of October 12. UNICEF assessment of TVET facilities and UNESCO rapid assessment of private universities are finalized and will be released soon.
• Rehabilitation works have started in around 10% of public schools and around 35% of private schools. A full workplan of rehabilitation works, showing their status and execution timeline, is being developed by MEHE and UNESCO and will be circulated soon.
• MEHE finalized the specifications for electronic devices to support remote learning for students and teachers affected by the Beirut blasts. They are divided into three categories as per the table below.

Furniture and Equipment – Funding Updates and Sources