UNESCO tackles physical, psychological and systemic educational challenges

UNESCO began coordinating school rehabilitation efforts after the massive port explosion in Beirut on August 4th. The Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE) has requested UNESCO to lead a wide international effort to coordinate the rehabilitation of public and private schools in the Beirut governorate. In this role, UNESCO will be coordinating partnerships, finance, implementation, monitoring, and reporting in relation to the rehabilitation of the damaged schools. On August 27, 2020, UNESCO launched an international fundraising appeal, ‘LiBeirut’, to accelerate international response for the rehabilitation of schools, historic heritage buildings, museums, galleries and the creative economy. Putting education, culture and heritage at the heart of reconstruction efforts is paramount because the explosion resulted in diminishing or eliminating access to education for over 85,000 children and youth. According to the latest available reports from MEHE, at least 199 schools (90 public, 109 private), 5 technical and vocational compounds, including 20