Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Tuesday stressed that the priority was to open schools on the scheduled dates and for students to return to their schools to receive education as the country will not recover unless educated and cultured generations are raised.

Premier Mikati’s words came during his visit today to the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, within the framework of his follow-up on the launch of the new school year, whereby he met with the Caretaker National Education Minister, Judge Abbas Halabi, ahead of a meeting with representatives of donor countries and international organizations, to request their support for the success of the school year.

In his delivered word, Mikati thanked the caretaker Minister of Education and the Ministry's employees for their efforts to secure the previous and new academic year and update the educational curricula, despite the difficult circumstances that the country and the educational sector, as a whole, are going through.

"We are currently facing economic, social and educational difficulties, and the great challenge facing us is to open a normal school year, and with the efforts of the Minister and the Ministry's workers, and in cooperation and partnership with donor countries, we can make the new school year a success,” he added.

He also thanked the international donors for supporting Lebanon during the last academic year, hoping that the support will continue the upcoming school year as well.

Mikati also underlined the government’s determination to eliminate all obstacles so that the academic and university year will be fruitful and successful.