Tuition Fees Unchanged... This Is What Will Happen in Zahle!

Issued by heads of parents' committees in Zahle and the Bekaa:

In light of the difficult economic, social, and living conditions facing Lebanese families in general, and particularly those in the Bekaa and Zahle regions, and after the increasing financial burdens families have carried in recent years, parents' committees in Zahle believe that the issue of tuition fees for the 2027/2026 academic year requires a calm and responsible approach based on dialogue and partnership.

While we acknowledge the financial challenges faced by educational institutions, we emphasize that addressing these challenges must also take into account families’ actual ability to bear the cost of education.

From this standpoint, we demand the following:

Work to keep school tuition fees for the 2027/2026 academic year unchanged, taking into account the economic and living conditions of families.

Accelerate the preparation and presentation of the school budget, allowing sufficient time for study and discussion with parents’ committees, and avoid delaying it until the last moments, so that its provisions and institutional needs can be discussed transparently and responsibly.

If the budget reveals an actual financial need, jointly seek alternative and sustainable resources and solutions, ensuring that increasing tuition fees and imposing additional burdens on parents are not the first or only option.

We affirm that this position is not driven by confrontation with school administrations, but stems from the principle that the school is a partnership between parents, administration, and teaching staff, and that preserving the continuity of education and stability of institutions requires cooperation from all parties.

We also call for early dialogue among all relevant parties (administrations, parents, and teaching bodies), enabling calm consideration of options and reaching balanced solutions that safeguard students’ interests, teachers’ rights, the continuity of educational institutions, and parents’ ability to secure their children’s education without resorting to difficult choices, thus maintaining the continuity and progress of private education.

Education is a shared responsibility, and its continuity requires a genuine partnership between schools, parents, and teaching bodies.

Signatories:

Chairwoman of the Parents’ Committee of the Suspended Sacred Hearts Secondary School – Zahle: Rita Attallah (Rita Attallah)

Chair of the Parents’ Committee of Sacred Hearts High School – Zahle: Rokz Qasouf

Chair of the Parents’ Committee of Mar Yousif High School for the Antonian Sisters – Zahle: Michel Jan Daher

Chair of the Parents’ Committee of the Evangelical High School – Zahle: Sharbel Deeb

Chair of the Parents’ Committee of the Eastern Basilian College – Zahle: Michel Georges Joseph

Chairwoman of the Parents’ Committee of the Peace School for the Antonian Fathers Eppa — Zahle: Mona Monir Safi