Education Minister Responds to Yaacoubian: In-Person Learning Is a Choice Linked to Each School's Reality and Public Safety Conditions

The media office of Minister of Education and Higher Education Reima Karami responded to remarks made by Member of Parliament Bulan Yaacoubian regarding the classification of one school in the Bint Jbeil district as eligible for in-person learning, despite its damage and proximity to occupied sites, accusing the ministry of arbitrary decision-making and endangering student and teacher safety.

The media office emphasized that the list including school and secondary school names is part of determining available educational options in line with security realities, and does not mean in-person learning is rigidly mandated or disconnected from on-the-ground developments; this list is updated daily based on security developments and updates related to shelter centers.

It noted that Decision No. 1241 issued by the Ministry of Education clearly states: "In-person learning is adopted as the first option whenever public safety conditions and appropriate operational capacity are met. When in-person learning is entirely or partially unfeasible, blended or remote learning may be temporarily adopted."

The media office affirmed that principals of public schools and secondary schools are fully aware of these guidelines and implementation procedures, and are responsible for assessing ground conditions in coordination with parents, local community groups, and local authorities, selecting the educational format they deem most suitable and safe for students and teaching staff, and informing the ministry, which will then facilitate all necessary support within the flexibility it maintains.

It also stated: "The school mentioned by Yaacoubian was included in the in-person learning list due to a typographical error in the table. It is actually part of a school cluster subject to the available option in line with security reality, and the correction was made immediately."