The Hope of a Nation Lies in Education: For Lebanon This Has Never Felt More True

The Hope of a Nation Lies in Education: For Lebanon This Has Never Felt More True

Op-ed by British Ambassador to Lebanon Ian Collard

"The main hope of a nation", said the Dutch scholar Erasmus, "lies in the proper education of its youth". For Lebanon, this has never felt more true. The country's best times have been founded on a strong investment in its education sector - creating Lebanese thinkers, entrepreneurs, and professionals who were able not just to shape their nation positively but whose ambitions spread into the region and indeed beyond. Sadly, one of the greatest risks to Lebanon now, as it deals with one of the most challenging periods in its history, is what is happening to the education of its children.

The UK has been a strong supporter of education in Lebanon, as we have globally. This week in London we are hosting, jointly with Kenya, a Global Education Summit to emphasise the importance of the education agenda, and especially education for girls. Indeed, for any country aspiring to improve their society all the evidence suggests that girls' education is one of the smartest investments we can make to lift people out of poverty, grow economies, save lives, and build back better from Covid-19.

Here in Lebanon, despite the heroic efforts