Education for Children Refugees: Exploring Eight Educational Programs for Syrian Refugee Children in Lebanon

• In Event: Roundtable Session 23
  In Roundtable Session: Holistic Principles Guiding Research and Action on Children's Educational Experiences and Opportunities

Abstract

Nearly 20% of the half million Syrian refugee children (SRC) in Lebanon have access to education, mainly through public schools that can accommodate for only 30% of SRC. In this study, project managers and field workers from eight non-formal education programs for SRC in Lebanon described their approaches, challenges and successes. Findings suggest that holism in education design for SRC in Lebanon requires educators to consider provisions of basic needs like food and clothing, close and regular coordination with parents, individual and group activities to manage war-related trauma, teacher professional development for supporting children with war-related trauma, and advocacy for government policy to officially recognize non-formal educational programs as legitimate enough for children to sit for official exams.

Author

• Bassel Akar, Notre Dame University, Louaize