The caretaker Minister of Education, Abbas Halabi, in his office in Beirut. (Credit: L'Orient Today)
BEIRUT — Classes have been suspended until the end of the week in private and public schools, colleges and universities across the country in the wake of rapid escalation in the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, mostly in the south of the country. Caretaker Minister of Education Abbas Halabi announced the extension on Tuesday in a press release issued by the ministry. On Monday, relentless Israeli bombing across southern Lebanon killed more than 550 people, injured almost 2,000 more and forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes.
In his announcement, the minister called on all the establishments concerned to comply with his call for the extended closures.
Yesterday, as Israeli fighter jets intensified their strikes, Halabi announced the closure of all schools in the southern suburbs of Beirut and across southern Lebanon. Many schools were transformed into shelters for people fleeing the violence.
Private schools had already started the school year at the beginning of September, but public schools had not yet opened their doors. They're scheduled to do so on Sept. 30, but the conflict, displaced students, and teachers' salaries are all complicating the process. Teachers in the public school systems have seen their salaries drop below a living wage since the economic crisis of 2019 caused the Lebanese lira to collapse.
Day-care centres will also be closed until the end of the week.
