Since Israel began its war on Lebanon on March 2, at least 2,846 people have been killed and more than a million displaced, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. Israeli attacks have included a major ground invasion and the occupation of southern Lebanon, On Sunday, Israeli strikes killed 51 people, including two medical workers. The United Nations reports at least 103 Lebanese medical workers have been killed and 230 injured in over 130 Israeli strikes since the war began.

Impact on Education

Schools across southern Lebanon have been destroyed, and hundreds of thousands of students have been displaced. Hundreds of educational institutions have turned into makeshift shelters for thousands of displaced people, compounding disruptions to an education system already struggling with a debilitating economic crisis. In a country like Lebanon. With its numerous religious sects. Education experts warn that the focus on subjects like the sciences and mathematics, at the expense of citizenship, could lead to a dangerous future.

“The mission of an education system is to build citizens,” Carlos Naffah, an academic researcher, told Al Jazeera — “We don’t want to face the fact that we lost a generation.”

Challenges in Learning

Schools in Lebanon have responded by using online learning and other programs to reach students, but many are still falling through the gaps; the Lebanese Civil Defence in Tyre, southern Lebanon, reported that workers are constantly under threat. “We’re under threat every second, every day,” Ali Safiuddin, head of the Lebanese Civil Defence in Tyre, told Al Jazeera. “We ask ourselves if we’re going to survive or if we’re going to die, we know we’ve already given up our lives by working here.

Broader Conflict Context

The war began after six weeks of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. The ceasefire began on March 2 but was quickly violated by both sides. Since then, Israel and Hezbollah have continued attacks. The Lebanese army reported several violations by Israeli forces the day after the ceasefire began. The conflict has been intensified by over 10,000 violations of the November 2024 ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.