The media office of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education issued the following statement: "As the security and military situation in the southern region continues to deteriorate, Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr. Abbas Halabi announced the continuation of school, secondary, and technical vocational closures tomorrow, Friday, in the districts adjacent to the southern international borders." Minister Halabi urged to follow the ministry's statements daily to monitor field developments and maintain the start of the academic year.
Additionally, Minister Halabi issued a memorandum related to the establishment of a crisis cell within the Ministry of Education and Higher Education to follow up on educational affairs, especially ways to ensure the continuity of the 2023-2024 academic year. The decision stated: "Since the start of the current academic year coincided with military and security events outside Lebanon that impacted the continuity of work in institutions and schools in several areas, these events necessitated a halt to teaching there as a precautionary measure to avert any risks or damages that could arise from their continued operation under the prevailing circumstances resulting from these events."
He added, "We have established a crisis cell in the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, chaired by the minister, comprising the president of the Lebanese University, the head of the Educational Center for Research and Development, and the heads of central units reporting directly to the minister; directors of education and relevant heads of educational regions and regional departments in vocational and technical education may join when necessary. This cell will be responsible for monitoring the educational and academic work in the current academic year, observing conditions and events, following their course, studying ways to mitigate any negative impacts or outcomes, and holding open meetings for this purpose to formulate appropriate plans and programs to ensure the continuity of this work, thereby achieving the desired educational aims. This cell is called to meet at twelve noon on Monday, October 16, 2023."
