Human Rights Watch has called on the Lebanese government to uphold its commitments and ensure access to education for all children in Lebanon, regardless of their legal status.
Despite pledges made by the Lebanese government to provide education for all children, HRW criticized a recent decision that restricts refugee access.
On September 30, the government continued enforcing a policy requiring non-Lebanese students to present valid residency permits or UNHCR-issued IDs to enroll in “second shift” classes in public schools for the 2025–2026 academic year.
According to UNHCR, 41 percent of Syrian refugee children did not attend primary school in 2024, while 81 percent missed out on secondary education. UNICEF reported that at least 28,000 non-Lebanese children were barred from formal education last year due to residency requirements.
HRW urged Lebanese leaders to honor their promises, emphasizing that education is a fundamental right under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and essential for the future of all children Lebanese and non-Lebanese alike.
