Retention Support: Impact on learning, attendance and retention outcomes

The past five years of instability in Lebanon have severely impacted the education sector, worsening existing disparities and accelerating the decline of the public education system.

Students are estimated to lag 1 to 2 years behind their expected grade level, with many struggling to correctly answer basic literacy questions (HRW, 2023). Only 2.9% of children in Grades 2 and 3 are reading Arabic at grade level proficiency. This educational lag has led to increased dropout rates and diminished student well-being, with far-reaching consequences for future academic success and employment prospects.

Considering these challenges, there’s a need for formal education support initiatives known as Retention Support (RS).Retention Support provides customized remedial education to students at risk of dropping out due to poor academic performance or insufficient foundational skills.

However, there is little systematic reporting on the outcomes of Retention Support programming. The ongoing school closures and crises in the south of Lebanon underscore the urgency of assessing and refining Retention Support programs.

Save the Children has completed research to help improve the guidance on Retention Support implementation to better support vulnerable children and enhance educational outcomes.