K-12 Education in Lebanon: Challenges and Opportunities is a two-day forum designed to address pressing challenges and opportunities in the Lebanese education sector.
Coinciding with International Education Day, the forum will bring together a diverse range of stakeholders, including educators, policymakers, school leaders, researchers, and representatives from the private and public sectors, to engage in dialogue, share experiences, and create opportunities to shape the future of education in Lebanon.
The event will provide a platform for collaborative shared thinking, policy alignment, and co-developing actionable recommendations to maintain a healthy diversity, good outcomes, and sustainability.
Key themes will include governance, curriculum development, venues of teaching participatory leadership, sustainability, and the role of technology in education.
The proceedings of the forum will be compiled, documented, and distributed to all participants as well as made available online. H.E. Dr. Rima Karami, Minister of Education and Higher Education in Lebanon, has expressed particular interest in receiving the proceedings to ensure that the Ministry is informed of all key discussions, outcomes, and recommendations emerging from the forum.
Globally, education systems are adapting and continuously reflecting on how to respond to the rapid pace of technological, societal, and economic change, while preparing students to meet the demands of the future. In Lebanon, these challenges are intensified by local realities such as persistent funding gaps, disparities in quality between public and private schools, a financial crisis impacting families’ ability to pay fees and educators’ salaries, a significant brain drain, insufficiently equipped schools, and a sectarian curriculum. These challenges are further compounded by limited collaboration across institutions, which hinders the adoption of innovative and effective practices.
The urgency of Lebanon’s educational challenges calls for bringing together all key stakeholders into a shared space for meaningful dialogue. This is what makes the forum both timely and essential. By fostering collaboration across sectors, the forum aims to discuss key questions such as the future purpose of education in Lebanon, the role that schools, educators, students, families, alumni and citizens at large can and should play in defining a future for education in Lebanon, the professionalization of teaching and teacher career development, partnerships and collaboration between private and public schools, integration between deliverables and alignment with the strategic plan of the Ministry of Education, as well as the role of governance in innovating education, articulating missions, visions, values, being historical guardians of standards and sustainability.
The conference will take place over two days:
Day 1: Friday January 23, 2026, from 3: 30 PM to 6:00 PM
Day 2: Saturday January 24, 2026, from 8: 30 AM to 5:30 PM
The conference will take place at the American University of Beirut Medical Center Halim and Aida Daniel Academic and Clinical Center.
The Lebanese Minister of Education and Higher Education
The Lebanese Minister of State for Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence
Ahliah School Board of Trustees Chairperson and Emeritus Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at AUB
This panel will examine how technology is reshaping and redefining teaching, learning, and education more broadly across various educational contexts in Lebanon and beyond. Panelists will discuss the potential of digital tools as well as the challenges of integrating technology in ways that are equitable, purposeful, and aligned with the school’s pedagogical vision. The session will highlight examples of how schools have adopted educational technologies, including digital tools, learning management systems, and AI-powered tools. Panelists will also consider issues of access, digital literacy, cybersecurity, and their implications for teachers, students, and school communities.
Drawing on experiences from both public and private schools, the discussion will examine how technology can support, rather than replace, human-centered and participatory educational practices. The panel will invite critical reflection on how schools can move beyond a reactive or fragmented use of technology toward a more strategic, values-driven integration that supports innovation, resilience, and long-term, meaningful educational improvement.
This panel explores how Lebanese schools are designing and implementing inclusive and future-ready curricula that respond to both local realities and global standards. Discussions will address the adoption of international qualifications such as the IB, IGCSE, and French Baccalaureate, navigating the opportunities and the limitations of the national curriculum, and the internal development of school-specific curricular pathways. Emphasis will be placed on the vital role of professional development in equipping educators to lead and sustain curriculum transformation through continuous learning and collaboration. Panelists will also examine the influence of accreditation processes, peer learning networks, and the need to balance academic rigor, creativity, and equity. The conversation will consider whether Lebanon’s education system should move beyond a single terminal exam toward multiple, skills-based assessments that better capture individual strengths and potential. The discussion will bring together experts from different institutions who will share practical insights and lessons learned, fostering a collaborative exchange on curriculum development and innovation.
This panel will explore how effective governance and participatory leadership can work together to support the sustainable development and transformation of schools in Lebanon. Panelists will discuss the distinct yet interconnected roles of school governance, including strategic planning, financial oversight, policy approval, and fundraising, as well as the role of school leadership in fostering participatory and accountable environments. The discussion will highlight various governance models in Lebanon, including those of private and public schools, and reflect on how these models inform decision-making, school autonomy, and long-term planning. At the same time, the panel will consider how school leaders can reimagine their roles to engage students, faculty, staff, parents, and community stakeholders in shaping the school’s values, strategic direction, and improvement goals.
Through sharing real-life examples and experiences, panelists will reflect on how participatory leadership and robust governance structures can serve as catalysts for meaningful and sustainable school improvement. The session will also invite dialogue on key indicators of success, challenges to implementation, and the broader cultural and policy shifts needed to promote participatory, responsive, and accountable school systems in Lebanon.
Eschool: Software Company Specialized in Education, Financial, and Administrative Work.
