EU to grant $43 million for Back-to-School Campaign

The Ministry of Education and Higher Education will receive around $43 million from the European Union (EU) for the ‘Back-to-School Campaign’ of the 2015-2016 school year.

The campaign will provide free access to education in public schools to 200,000 Lebanese and non-Lebanese students. Around 46,000 Syrian refugee children will be enrolled in first and second shifts in public schools.

The EU support is part of a collective effort to bring local and Syrian refugee children back to school as defined in a dialog between the ministry, UN agencies, international donors, civil society and local institutions. This partnership contributes to developing capacity, as well as reducing tensions and building stability. It is in line with the Lebanese Government's strategic plan R.A.C.E. (Reaching All Children with Education), according to a statement by the EU.

So far, the EU has allocated a total of $570 million to support Lebanon in facing the consequences of the Syrian refugees, paid through humanitarian assistance and interventions focusing on assisting Lebanese structures to respond to the crisis.