The Italian Embassy in Beirut, through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, is supporting UNICEF's program for the rehabilitation of schools to create a more conducive learning environment for students and teachers in Lebanon, particularly focusing on the most vulnerable communities. With funding from Italy, UNICEF has rehabilitated 7 public schools and equipped them with solar energy across the country, allowing students to attend schools with improved and safer facilities. Additionally, 6 more schools are currently being rehabilitated with support from Italy.
The Director General of Education, Imad Ashkar, thanked "the Italian Agency for Cooperation and UNICEF for the support they provide to public schools, especially since Lebanon is suffering from accumulated conditions and problems that weigh heavily on society and education in particular." He called for the agency "to continue supporting public education, which is in urgent need of it," and praised the "quality of the restoration, making schools bright spaces and suitable environments for study."
On his part, the Director General of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, Marco Ricardo Rosconi, stated: "Since 2017, the agency's intervention has focused on four main pillars aimed at rehabilitating schools, education and protection, enhancing vocational education and training, and supporting school food, with a global investment of approximately 58 million euros." He added, "Furthermore, the Ministry of Education launched in 2021 the five-year plan that outlines the core pillars of Lebanon's vision for public education, focusing on access to education, quality, and governance. The agency supports this plan, especially in improving access and quality through the rehabilitation of schools and inclusive education programs in collaboration with prominent partners such as UNICEF and Italian NGOs."
UNICEF's representative in Lebanon, Edward Pegebede, said, "The rehabilitation of schools makes a significant difference for children and teachers and positively affects them. These schools are now healthier and safer for children, which contributes to improving attendance rates." He added, "Italy is a long-term partner of UNICEF, and we are grateful for this partnership."
An assessment will also be conducted for each school to equip it with solar energy whenever possible, including photovoltaic cells and solar panels supplementing Lebanon's public infrastructure. These measures will help reduce electricity costs in the long term and contribute to providing energy for schools throughout the academic year. UNICEF has been working in Lebanon for over 70 years, operating in some of the toughest places in the world to reach the most deprived children. We work in more than 190 countries and territories, for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for all.
