Lebanon

Support to Basic Education Reform

The Taef Agreement, which marked the end of civil unrest in 1990, considered under its first section education as one of the five most important areas of reform. Ministerial statements by successive governments since the end of the war have stressed the priority of education, equal opportunities in education, reform of the curricula, and rehabilitation of the teaching cadre.

In this context, The Ministry of Education and the National Center for Educational Research and Development embarked on formulating and introducing a new curricula and the related reforms and capacity building.

Realizing the importance of basic education, UNDP in collaboration with UNESCO, has since 1996, provided assistance to the Ministry of National Education and the National Center for Educational Research (CRDP) for the implementation of reforms and strengthening capacities in the sectors of basic education. The programme concentrates on mapping and construction of schools, reform of the curricula, and the institutional reform and rehabilitation of the system, including advocacy and support to mainstreaming special education. The programme also aims to pilot the rehabilitation of schools in the newly liberated region of Southern Lebanon.

The programme was also instrumental in creating awareness on the Global Commitment to secure Education for All (EFA) and in promoting participation of national experts and institutions in regional strategic planning for EFA and global follow-up.