Effect of Communicable Disease on the Performance of Elementary School Students: A Case Study of Leishmaniasis among Syrian Refugees in Some Bekaa (Lebanon) Area Schools

摘要

It is well known that education in a child life has the power to develop him/her personally, socially, as well as economically. Due to the value of education and its significance, governments, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), as well as educational institutions are investing more than ever before on education. In order to bring improvements to this sector, some of the factors influencing the academic performance of the students such as attitude of the students, the leadership aspects, and psychological and health related factors are being studied. Since the Syrian conflict started, Lebanon became a common destination receiving a huge number of Syrian refugees that are living in camps spread all over the country, with the largest concentration in the Bekaa Valley. Generous steps are being taken to increase the access to formal education, such as offering free public education and opening second shifts in the afternoon. Yet barriers, such as child labor and health related factors, like the spreading of the communicable disease leishmaniasis are keeping children out of classroom. The present study was done with the aim of investigating the effect of leishmaniasis on the performance and the academic achievement of Syrian children. The results showed varying degrees of knowledge and dealing with the case of leishmaniasis. The disease clearly had an effect on the students' attendance in schools, and by proxy on their academic performance.