Salam: Under the patronage of Prime Minister, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE) today convened the third High-Level Strategic Management Board of the Transition and Resilience Education Fund (TREF), bringing together the Government of Lebanon, contributing partners and UNICEF to advance education recovery and to support strategic direction for the 2026/2027 school year and beyond.
According to National news agency - Lebanon, the meeting comes at a critical moment for education in Lebanon. Following another year of conflict and disruption, the focus is on restoring safe learning environments, recovering lost learning and ensuring that the most vulnerable children remain connected to education, while sustaining reforms that improve learning, inclusion, accountability and the performance of the education system.
Established under MEHE's leadership, TREF brings together contributing partners - the European Union, Germany through KfW, France through AFD, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Finland, Norway, the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation, Akelius Foundation, and UNICEF - around Lebanon's national education priorities. Their sustained partnership has enabled TREF to protect learning through successive crises while supporting reforms to strengthen the public education system.
The Lebanese Prime Minister Dr. Nawaf Salam emphasized the centrality of education to Lebanon's recovery. He acknowledged the challenges posed by successive crises but commended the efforts of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, alongside teachers and partners, in maintaining educational connectivity for children. Dr. Salam reiterated the government's commitment to the Ministry and the Vision 2040 initiative, underlining the necessity of continued reforms and investment with international support.
Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr. Rima Karami highlighted the priority of meaningful learning restoration. She emphasized ongoing reforms aimed at long-term strengthening of the public education system through the Strategic Vision for Educational Renewal 2025-2040, focusing on improved teaching, inclusivity, governance, and educational pathways for children outside the system. Recovery and reform are seen as intertwined processes for achieving equitable learning outcomes.
The recent hostilities in 2026 displaced over a million people, including 390,000 children, and led to the closure and damage of numerous schools. An initial assessment revealed 340 schools damaged or destroyed, posing a risk to the new school year for many children.
Efforts for learning recovery prioritize the restoration of damaged schools, foundational literacy and numeracy enhancement, teacher support, and helping children regain lost learning. These efforts are crucial for a return to meaningful education.
Samy Saadi, Charg© d'Affaires a.i of the European Union Delegation to Lebanon, reiterated the EU's commitment to supporting Lebanon's public education system. The EU's support through TREF has been instrumental in restoring safe learning environments and ensuring access to quality education. Future priorities include strengthening the Ministry's institutional capacity and encouraging domestic investment to embed progress on reforms.
Marcoluigi Corsi, UNICEF Representative in Lebanon, stressed that disruptions to education risk widening learning gaps. With TREF's support, UNICEF aims to accelerate learning recovery, restore safe schools, and sustain reforms for better outcomes. Investing in education recovery and reform is seen as an investment in Lebanon's future.
The TREF Strategic Management Board reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining learning and strengthening Lebanon's education system long-term. TREF aims to support MEHE in turning education recovery into improved outcomes, expanding opportunities for at-risk children, and strengthening systems and governance for quality, inclusive education.
Since its inception in 2022, TREF has facilitated a multi-year partnership between MEHE, contributing partners, and UNICEF, combining international financing with technical assistance. This partnership supports Lebanon's efforts to build a more equitable, effective, and resilient education system for all children.