This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/22/world/middleeast/for-most-young-refugees-from-syria-school-is-as-distant-as-home.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
For Most Young Refugees From Syria, School Is as Distant as Home For Most Young Refugees From Syria, School Is as Distant as Home
(about 2 hours later)
BAALBEK, Lebanon — Standing in the front of a classroom, Khalid Naji, a 13-year-old Syrian refugee, clutched a red felt pen and began copying the English sentence he had composed in his notebook. “Rana doesnt blay football,” he wrote on a whiteboard, looking down at his notebook before slowly composing each letter, “but he riding story.”BAALBEK, Lebanon — Standing in the front of a classroom, Khalid Naji, a 13-year-old Syrian refugee, clutched a red felt pen and began copying the English sentence he had composed in his notebook. “Rana doesnt blay football,” he wrote on a whiteboard, looking down at his notebook before slowly composing each letter, “but he riding story.”
At an after-school program here in rural central Lebanon, the goal was to prepare young Syrian refugees for Lebanon’s public schools. Depending on the school, the instruction could be in English or French, a daunting challenge either way for Syrians educated in Arabic.At an after-school program here in rural central Lebanon, the goal was to prepare young Syrian refugees for Lebanon’s public schools. Depending on the school, the instruction could be in English or French, a daunting challenge either way for Syrians educated in Arabic.
Khalid sat down and said with teenage bravado that English was easy. But his mother, Manal Naji, said later that her son had been held back a grade last year at the Lebanese public school he was attending. “He didn’t understand what his teacher was saying,” she said. “He still doesn’t. I’m worried. He used to be at the top of his class in Damascus.”Khalid sat down and said with teenage bravado that English was easy. But his mother, Manal Naji, said later that her son had been held back a grade last year at the Lebanese public school he was attending. “He didn’t understand what his teacher was saying,” she said. “He still doesn’t. I’m worried. He used to be at the top of his class in Damascus.”
At least, though, her son was enrolled in school.At least, though, her son was enrolled in school.
Of at least 2.2 million Syrian refugees in the region, an estimated 865,000 are children, and about 70 percent of them are not enrolled in school, Unicef says. But the real figure is almost certainly higher. Of the 2.3 million registered Syrian refugees in the region, an estimated 865,000 are children, and about 70 percent of them are not enrolled in school, Unicef says. But the real figure is almost certainly higher.
Hundreds of thousands of refugees have yet to be registered by the United Nations, especially in Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan. The children among them, probably accounting for a third, are unlikely to be attending school. Many are simply unable to register in school systems that are struggling to deal with the inundation of Syrians. Hundreds of thousands of refugees have yet to be registered by the United Nations, especially in Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan. The children among them, probably accounting for one-third, are unlikely to be attending school. Many are simply unable to register in school systems that are struggling to deal with the inundation of Syrians.
Among those who do enroll, many attend irregularly because of cost or safety concerns. Others, especially those who have already missed a year or two of school because of the conflict in Syria, are unable to cope with a new environment, a new curriculum and, in the case of Lebanon, a new language. Still others work to help parents whose savings are being depleted.Among those who do enroll, many attend irregularly because of cost or safety concerns. Others, especially those who have already missed a year or two of school because of the conflict in Syria, are unable to cope with a new environment, a new curriculum and, in the case of Lebanon, a new language. Still others work to help parents whose savings are being depleted.
Some of the children receive lessons outside school. But many just spend their days doing little in camps or in the communities that host Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt. As Syria’s civil war nears the end of its third year, experts warn of a lost generation of Syrian children that could prove one of the most damaging consequences of the war.Some of the children receive lessons outside school. But many just spend their days doing little in camps or in the communities that host Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt. As Syria’s civil war nears the end of its third year, experts warn of a lost generation of Syrian children that could prove one of the most damaging consequences of the war.
“If this problem is left unaddressed, the children will lose hope, especially adolescents,” said Maria Calivis, the regional director of Unicef who oversees its response to the crisis. “They will replicate and perpetuate the violence that they have seen. And they will lack the skills and knowledge that one day will be needed to rebuild Syria.”“If this problem is left unaddressed, the children will lose hope, especially adolescents,” said Maria Calivis, the regional director of Unicef who oversees its response to the crisis. “They will replicate and perpetuate the violence that they have seen. And they will lack the skills and knowledge that one day will be needed to rebuild Syria.”
Before the war, enrollment of school-age children in Syria had reached 80 percent, a “relatively high” figure for the Middle East, Ms. Calivis said. In the previous decade, the Syrian government had made it a priority to increase enrollment nationwide, of girls especially, and to build new schools in poor areas.Before the war, enrollment of school-age children in Syria had reached 80 percent, a “relatively high” figure for the Middle East, Ms. Calivis said. In the previous decade, the Syrian government had made it a priority to increase enrollment nationwide, of girls especially, and to build new schools in poor areas.
In Syria, the fighting is keeping 1.9 million children out of school, or about 40 percent of the country’s current population of school-age children, according to Unicef.In Syria, the fighting is keeping 1.9 million children out of school, or about 40 percent of the country’s current population of school-age children, according to Unicef.
Across this region, schools that were already overcrowded are groaning under the weight of Syrian children who have sometimes doubled the schools’ student bodies. They are scrambling to start afternoon shifts, find extra classrooms and hire new teachers among locals or Syrian refugees. By early next year, United Nations officials hope to reach an agreement among the region’s governments to certify the schooling of the Syrian children.Across this region, schools that were already overcrowded are groaning under the weight of Syrian children who have sometimes doubled the schools’ student bodies. They are scrambling to start afternoon shifts, find extra classrooms and hire new teachers among locals or Syrian refugees. By early next year, United Nations officials hope to reach an agreement among the region’s governments to certify the schooling of the Syrian children.
In Lebanon — overwhelmed by the influx of a million Syrians, the equivalent of a quarter of its population — only 13 percent of the Syrian children, or about 53,000, are enrolled in public schools, the lowest percentage among the host countries, according to Unicef. In Lebanon — overwhelmed by the influx of a million Syrians, the equivalent of one-quarter of its population — only 13 percent of the Syrian children, or about 53,000, are enrolled in public schools, the lowest percentage among the host countries, according to Unicef.
About 70 percent of Lebanese children attend private schools in Lebanon, a legacy of its 15-year civil war, leaving its public school system severely underfinanced. The estimated 400,000 Syrian children who are school-age in Lebanon already outnumber the 300,000 Lebanese in the nation’s public schools.About 70 percent of Lebanese children attend private schools in Lebanon, a legacy of its 15-year civil war, leaving its public school system severely underfinanced. The estimated 400,000 Syrian children who are school-age in Lebanon already outnumber the 300,000 Lebanese in the nation’s public schools.
Ill-equipped to handle the Syrian children and their particular needs, Lebanon’s public schools have yet to start the afternoon shifts for Syrians that are now common in Jordan and Turkey.Ill-equipped to handle the Syrian children and their particular needs, Lebanon’s public schools have yet to start the afternoon shifts for Syrians that are now common in Jordan and Turkey.
At an elementary school in the village of Deddeh, in northern Lebanon, 59 of the 546 students are Syrian. History and geography are taught in Arabic, and French is used for other subjects. At an elementary school in Deddeh, a village in northern Lebanon, 59 of the 546 students are Syrian. History and geography are taught in Arabic, and French is used for other subjects.
“The Syrian children don’t understand French at all,” said Elham Ghalayani, an assistant principal. “It’s like talking to a wall. It’s only those who are in kindergarten who are able to catch up.”“The Syrian children don’t understand French at all,” said Elham Ghalayani, an assistant principal. “It’s like talking to a wall. It’s only those who are in kindergarten who are able to catch up.”
In Tripoli, instructors with Save the Children were trying to prepare Syrian children for public schools. One teacher drilled a classroom of 10- to 12-year-olds in basic math terms in French.In Tripoli, instructors with Save the Children were trying to prepare Syrian children for public schools. One teacher drilled a classroom of 10- to 12-year-olds in basic math terms in French.
“Les multiples communs de deux entiers,” the pupils repeated fluently, or “the common multiples of two integers.” But when asked simple, unrelated questions in French, they froze.“Les multiples communs de deux entiers,” the pupils repeated fluently, or “the common multiples of two integers.” But when asked simple, unrelated questions in French, they froze.
Many Syrian children have to surmount obstacles besides language just to enroll in a public school, said Hani Jesri, an official at Jusoor, a private organization formed by Syrian expatriates. In Beirut, Jusoor offers English lessons to Syrian children with the goal of placing them in Lebanese public schools. Many Syrian children have to surmount obstacles besides language just to enroll in a public school, said Hani Jesri, an official at Jusoor, a private support group formed by Syrian expatriates. In Beirut, Jusoor offers English lessons to Syrian children with the goal of placing them in Lebanese public schools.
Like many Syrian children, Nour, an 11-year-old girl who had arrived at Jusoor a day earlier, lost two years of schooling. Though she had completed the second grade in Syria, she had forgotten how to read and could no longer write her name. A 10-year-old boy named Mohammed said that after his lessons at Jusoor, he went to the abandoned building where his family lives, rested for an hour and went to sell red roses on Hamra Street, Beirut’s main commercial strip, until 1 a.m.Like many Syrian children, Nour, an 11-year-old girl who had arrived at Jusoor a day earlier, lost two years of schooling. Though she had completed the second grade in Syria, she had forgotten how to read and could no longer write her name. A 10-year-old boy named Mohammed said that after his lessons at Jusoor, he went to the abandoned building where his family lives, rested for an hour and went to sell red roses on Hamra Street, Beirut’s main commercial strip, until 1 a.m.
“When I get home, I go to sleep right away,” he said. “Then I wake up at 7 a.m. to come to school.”“When I get home, I go to sleep right away,” he said. “Then I wake up at 7 a.m. to come to school.”
Possibly at the other end of the spectrum is the Levant Center, a private school in Gaziantep, Turkey. The school caters to the children of wealthy Syrian residents, charging them about $1,000 a year. Occupying several floors of a modern office building, the school helps prepare students to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language, or Toefl.Possibly at the other end of the spectrum is the Levant Center, a private school in Gaziantep, Turkey. The school caters to the children of wealthy Syrian residents, charging them about $1,000 a year. Occupying several floors of a modern office building, the school helps prepare students to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language, or Toefl.
“Anything you’ll find in a good private school in the United States, you’ll find here,” said Ahmad Chalati, who owned a private school in Aleppo, Syria, before the war and opened the Levant Center about six months ago.“Anything you’ll find in a good private school in the United States, you’ll find here,” said Ahmad Chalati, who owned a private school in Aleppo, Syria, before the war and opened the Levant Center about six months ago.
The center is an exception. In Turkey, where 45 percent of Syrian children attend school, according to Unicef, classes are typically taught by Syrian teachers in buildings provided by local governments. The conditions vary greatly according to a municipality’s resources.The center is an exception. In Turkey, where 45 percent of Syrian children attend school, according to Unicef, classes are typically taught by Syrian teachers in buildings provided by local governments. The conditions vary greatly according to a municipality’s resources.
In Gaziantep, an industrial center and the wealthiest city in southern Turkey, city officials have turned a civic building into a school for 650 Syrian children. Except for its Turkish lessons, the curriculum hewed to that of schools in Syria. Syrian teachers used Syrian textbooks, complete with prewar lessons, that had been reprinted by a Qatari charity.In Gaziantep, an industrial center and the wealthiest city in southern Turkey, city officials have turned a civic building into a school for 650 Syrian children. Except for its Turkish lessons, the curriculum hewed to that of schools in Syria. Syrian teachers used Syrian textbooks, complete with prewar lessons, that had been reprinted by a Qatari charity.
“We’ll delete this,” a teacher, Baraah al-Jalloud, said, pointing to a photo of President Bashar al-Assad in a social sciences textbook. “He’s a bad man.”“We’ll delete this,” a teacher, Baraah al-Jalloud, said, pointing to a photo of President Bashar al-Assad in a social sciences textbook. “He’s a bad man.”
Late in the afternoon, five buses took the children to the city outskirts where most of them live. A Syrian volunteer, Nahla Mohammed, kept the children entertained during the long ride home.Late in the afternoon, five buses took the children to the city outskirts where most of them live. A Syrian volunteer, Nahla Mohammed, kept the children entertained during the long ride home.
Starting with the oneness of God, the children recited verses from the Quran and joined Ms. Mohammed in song.Starting with the oneness of God, the children recited verses from the Quran and joined Ms. Mohammed in song.
“Who misses his home in Syria?” she asked. All the children immediately raised their hands.“Who misses his home in Syria?” she asked. All the children immediately raised their hands.
“Whose house was burned down in Syria?” Half a dozen hands shot up.“Whose house was burned down in Syria?” Half a dozen hands shot up.
“Who wants to go back to Syria?”“Who wants to go back to Syria?”
Once again, without exception, all the children on the bus raised their hands.Once again, without exception, all the children on the bus raised their hands.