Helpdesk Report: Education system in Lebanon
This report brings together the body of evidence from the last 5-10 years on Lebanon’s education sector
Abstract
Query
Collate and synthesise the body of evidence from the last 5-10 years on Lebanon’s education sector. This should take an education system wide approach while particularly, prioritising access, cost/ efficiency, quality and equity. All levels of education from pre-school up to tertiary should be considered and all forms of education provision, public, private, grant-aided private, UNRWA and non-formal education should be covered. The literature review should also include any available evidence on education provision for Syrian refugees in Lebanon and the Government and donor response to the influx of Syrian refugees since 2011.
Summary
Since the civil war in 1975, the quality of the Lebanese education system has suffered. Two in every three students now attend private schools, where the quality of education is higher than that offered by the public schools. Education was recognised in the peace treaty as a means of moving towards reconciliation, prompting large scale education reform. However, gaps have developed between advantaged and disadvantaged youths. The majority of school-aged Lebanese children are educated in private schools, with only 27 percent or 300,000 Lebanese children enrolled in public education, mostly because they are unable to afford private school. Public schools suffer teacher shortages and often have infrastructure problems. Most secondary schools are segregated by religion with communities controlling what is taught in classrooms.
Citation
Millington, K.; Thompson, S. Helpdesk Report: Education system in Lebanon. Health and Education Advice and Resource Team (HEART), Oxford, UK (2015) 27 pp.
Links
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