MEA comes to the rescue of public schools: $800,000 for 80 schools

BEIRUT — Lebanese airline MEA announced $800,000 in financial aid for 80 public schools at a Beirut press conference, alongside Sahar Baassiri, former diplomat and wife of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and Education Minister Rima Karameh

This initiative is part of a national campaign to support public schools launched by MEA, according to the state-run National News Agency (NNA).

"MEA has committed to supporting 80 public schools and has allotted $800,000 for this purpose. This contribution marks the start of the campaign, and we thank the airline for its initiative and for entrusting us with supervising its implementation, in close coordination with the Ministry of Education," said Baassiri.

"Since this initiative was announced, we have received pledges and offers to contribute from various actors," she added.

"The selection of the 80 participating schools was done according to the ministry’s criteria... They are spread throughout all regions of Lebanon, and the process of distributing and allocating the aid will take place in a clear and transparent manner."

Karameh, thanked Baassiri for her interest in public schools, stressing that "this partnership is not solely financial."

"It is an opportunity to build the future and launch a responsible partnership between the private and public sectors," she said.

According to the minister, the schools were chosen "for their vision and their plans, and the aid will be used directly to strengthen the structure of these schools and develop education."

At the start of the year, Karameh decided to prioritize the recovery of the public school system, which she described as 'ailing.'

As the economic crisis has driven students from the private to the public system, public education is experiencing a deep crisis: dilapidated infrastructure, underpaid teachers, and students reportedly falling as much as three years behind academically.