By Marian Choueifati
As Beirut Baptist School (BBS) steps into a new academic year, dichotomous feelings of excitement and anxiety encompass our staff. On one hand, we are thrilled to see that BBS has been receiving an all-time-high number of registrations for the upcoming year. Nonetheless, we are anxious about the parents and teachers who are struggling to make ends meet, due to the relentless devaluation of the Lebanese Lira.
Many of our BBS families are newly poor, struggling to survive on lira-based-salaries. (Three years ago, $1 used to be equal to 1,500 LBP. Now, $1 is equivalent to 38,000 LBP, resulting in the second highest global inflation rate 178%.) To make matters worse, public schools in Lebanon are not an alternative option, as the government has not yet announced the starting date for the new academic year. They are also not sufficiently equipped with educational resources to accommodate their increasing number of students. As a result, 3 in 10 young people in Lebanon have stopped their education. Sadly, 13% of children under the age of 18 are being prompted to find jobs to help their parents financially. This is why it is so crucial that we continue to help as many students at BBS as we can.
In a time of economic and political collapse, we find great hope in spiritual, holistic education. At the start of the year, we can’t help but express our gratitude for the teachers who have stayed, regardless of the consistent devaluation of their basic salaries that are paid in Lebanese pound. We also thank God for the partners who have given above and beyond to help us increase salaries and subsidize student tuition. The needs increase, but our God has been faithful until now. As we face another storm, we have complete trust in a God who calls out “Peace! Be still!” (Mark 4:39).