Children outside school losing opportunities
Lebanese working children face a significant problem. For families that rely on the child's income, it is difficult to stop the child's work even if they want to enroll them in school. This is because the child's income is necessary to meet the family's needs. Returning to school involves additional expenses such as transportation and textbooks, which leads many families to prefer that their children continue working rather than pursuing education. According to UNICEF’s assessment, 14% of families in Lebanon have at least one child working, which is double the rate recorded at the beginning of 2025. Additionally, 46% of families have reduced their spending on education, and 17% have stopped their children from attending school without specifying the number of children who have left work. The working child who tries to attend school often suffers from a lack of time for homework and rest. Their continuous absence from school can lead to procrastination or force them to catch up on missed lessons, adding financial burdens on families. Reports indicate that insufficient financial support and the search for ways to reduce dependence on the child's income are among the main reasons children leave school. This jeopardizes their educational future and increases the suffering of families who may be unable to afford the costs of re-enrollment or compensate for missed days. Therefore, providing a school spot alone is not enough; supportive measures are needed, including covering educational expenses and offering ongoing assistance to families. Additionally, monitoring children's educational status is essential to ensure their continuous attendance and to prevent them from working.
Notice: This Is an AI-Generated Summary
Comments (0)