Lebanon reduces school week to four days
Lebanon’s education ministry announced that public schools for the 2025-2026 academic year will have a four-day week, instead of the usual five, according to the New Arab on August 20th.
The decision was made following a meeting chaired by Education Minister Rima Karami with Fadi Yarak, the Director General of Education, in which plans were discussed ahead of the forthcoming school year.
No official explanation has been given for the reduction in the school week.
Head of the Private Educational Institutions’ Union Father Youssef Nasr, said private schools may implement the four-day week if deemed necessary, but emphasised they have “the autonomy to reject” the idea.
Lebanon’s decision comes in the wake of a deep-rooted economic crisis which has decimated teachers’ salaries and reduced funding for state-run schools.
Israel’s war on Hezbollah, and ongoing strikes in the south of Lebanon despite a ceasefire agreement, has also contributed to the deterioration of schooling, displacing teachers and students, as well as destroying schools in bombings.
Whilst Lebanon attempts to balance reconstructing parts of its country and maintaining vital public services, it has received economic support from the World Bank to support infrastructure that could benefit the education sector.
In addition to international aid, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has embarked on a charm offensive with foreign leaders to discuss the wide-ranging reforms Beirut is under pressure to implement.
Aoun recently engaged in talks with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, which were completed on July 30th, to enhance cooperation in the education sector and resuscitate economic partnerships between the two nations.
Karami has said further details would be outlined in upcoming ministerial decisions, surrounding the education ministry’s decision to reduce the school week.
Other issues that have been discussed in the meeting include class timescales, teaching staff schedules and completing staff transfers ahead of the beginning of the academic year.
The New Arab, Maghrebi.org
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