Mission

TCCT works to support the academic achievements of Lebanon’s children, both Lebanese and refugee, and to improve student retention in schools.

With large displacements of vulnerable people from surrounding countries, and the lingering effects of its own civil war, Lebanon’s severely underfunded state educational system now increasingly faces the structural burden of too few schools teaching too many students. This has consistently strained local public education infrastructures which are now almost at breaking point. Additionally, this situation has exacerbated the already serious and persistent problem of children dropping out of school, which in some age groups is already close to 40%. Among refugee communities this risk only increases and its effects are already being felt, with ever more children being left behind.

Education for Lebanon’s children in need, irrespective of nationality, faith or gender, is a vital component to restore hope, and to rebuild a future shattered by conflict and economic deprivation. Long-term, education is an essential pillar in the reconstruction of societies and communities in Middle East.

Background

Education in Lebanon is compulsory for children aged 5-12 years old. However, the public education system is underfunded, overstretched and must also absorb Palestinian and, more recently, Syrian refugee children. The result is classes operating double shifts and with a high dropout rate – 30%+ for Lebanese children before reaching the secondary level, and even higher for refugee children.

Alongside Caritas, we have identified the following key factors as contributing to the high dropout rates:

Low family income and lack of education amongst parents which affect parental support;
Low quality of education in public schools due to poor school facilities, crowded classrooms and overstretched teaching staff.