Widening access to quality education for Syrian refugees : the role of private and NGO sectors in Lebanon

النوع : Report

This study examines the access and quality of education for Syrian refugees enrolled in both the private and NGO sectors through case studies of 13 schools and NGOs with education programmes. This study adopts a qualitative methodology with a primary focus on case studies of thirteen organizations using conducted one-to-one interviews with school principals, teachers, parents, stakeholders and NGO education specialists. The study revealed that access to quality education remains elusive to the majority of Syrian children due to minimal collaboration between the public, private, NGO, and INGO sectors in Lebanon. Several Lebanese regulations limit the right to education to Lebanese citizens only. Therefore, Syrian children are not all enrolled in the education system. Those Syrian children are also subject to all kinds of violence in school. The study highlights the inadequacy of mere access to mainstream public and private schools without the provision of supplemental academic support to ease the transition to a new learning environment. It reveals that the main feature of private and public sector education programmes was the limited adaptability of the learning environment to meet the needs of Syrian refugees. It is shown as well that the prolonged crisis necessitates adaptation to meet changing circumstances, and the private and NGO sector institutions offered rich case studies for the continued recalibration in their approach to education programmes. Finally, the long-term impact of segregated education programmes for refugee children requires careful consideration and reflection.