In the Midst of War, Nabatieh Schools Reopen Their Doors
Public secondary schools in Nabatieh and its surrounding areas opened their doors on the first day of the new academic year amid an atmosphere of cautious calm, anxiety and concern.
A large number of students opted for in-person learning, while school buses returned to the streets early in the morning, transporting students to their schools.
In Nabatieh and its surrounding towns, with the exception of the six towns of Eastern and Western Zawtar, Yohmor al-Shaqif, Arnoun, Nabatieh and Kfartebnit, damage to school buildings was largely limited to shattered windows and damaged doors caused by the impact of Israeli airstrikes that targeted areas around some schools.
However, universities as well as some public and private schools located in Nabatieh’s University District are now considered unsafe due to nearby shelling and airstrikes, particularly as Ali al-Taher hills, Dabsheh Hill and the Kfaroummane outskirts are located just a short distance away and directly opposite the district.
The situation prompted the administrations of universities, secondary schools and schools to relocate and look for alternative buildings both inside and outside Nabatieh. Among them was the historic Hassan Kamel Al-Sabah Public Secondary School in Nabatieh, which moved its students to the Nabatieh Technical School to ensure the safety of students and teachers and allow students to attend classes in a less stressful and anxiety-inducing environment.
Secondary school principal Abbas Shmaisani said: “Our initial educational plan was to begin the academic year with in-person classes at the secondary school building in eastern Nabatieh. However, this was not possible due to the security situation and daily developments resulting from the ongoing Israeli attacks. We therefore moved to our alternative plan of finding another building for the students, and the Nabatieh Technical School was our choice.”
He added: “We insisted on keeping the students within the city of Nabatieh so as not to impose any additional transportation burden on them. The start was very good, and we were surprised by the high attendance among both students and parents, who appeared relatively reassured. It should be noted that some students remain displaced outside the area and are receiving their education remotely. A high-speed internet connection has been installed in the building here, and we hope to return to our main building as soon as possible.”
He continued: “We must thank everyone who supported us and stood by us, as well as the Minister of Education for her support and Dr. Hanadi Berri, Director of Vocational Education, for welcoming us into the technical school building. I reiterate that the situation here is acceptable, the students are comfortable, and the security situation is relatively stable, but we look forward to returning to our main building.”
He concluded: “There is considerable pressure to enroll students, and our number here has already exceeded 800 students.”
