Connecting Classrooms: Working with schools in Lebanon
1. “My visit to Lebanon took place in May of this
year. This was such a fantastic experience and I
was able to experience and share first hand the
Lebanese education system. The children in
school were an absolute delight so eager to share
their English, that they speak nearly fluently”.
Stewart Cook, UK schools teacher
Working with schools in
Lebanon
2. Lebanon
How will this webinar work?
Please ensure your microphone/phone is on mute
The webinar will be recorded
Please refrain from asking any questions during the webinar. There will be a Q&A
section at the end of the webinar
About the British Council?
The British Council creates international opportunities for the people of the UK and other
countries and builds trust between them worldwide. We are on the ground in six
continents and over 100 countries bringing international opportunity to life, every day.
3. Lebanon
Aims of the webinar
Develop an understanding of Lebanon as a country, its Education system and the
challenges it faces
Benefits of partnering with a school in Lebanon for pupils and teachers
How the British Council can help your school partner with a school in Lebanon
Which areas of Lebanon you can partner with
Case studies
How to apply and useful contact details
Q&A session
4. Lebanon
Facts about Lebanon
• It is a west Asian country located in the East Mediterranean. It is bordered by the
Mediterranean Sea on the west, Syria on the north and east, and Israel on the south.
• Arabic, French and English are spoken in Lebanon and English is taught in schools and
colleges.
• It has a developing economy, having the largest proportion of skilled labour among Arab
States.
• The Lebanese education system comprises of primary education, intermediate
education, secondary education, technical and vocational education and higher
education.
• Known as the Paris of the Middle East, Beirut, the capital of Lebanon has been
nominated the number one destination city among 44 places in the world by the New
York Times (Jan 2009).
5. Lebanon
Education system in Lebanon
Total number of students in schools 942391
Schools Total (2807)
State schools 1365
Semi-Private schools 369
Private (pay fee) schools 1073
Students in State schools 30.2%
Students in Semi-Private schools 13.5%
Students in Private pay fee schools 52.8%
6. Lebanon
Phases and Testing
School Stages Age Range Main Assessment
Pre-school 3-5 years None
Basic Education 6-14 years Brevet national exam (14
years)
Secondary Education 15-17 years Baccalaureate exam (17
years)
7. Lebanon
Freedom and control
• State schools follow the ministry national curriculum and the national books.
• Private schools abide by the national curricula but are free to choose their own
textbooks.
• Education is compulsory until age 15 and 95% of school-age children attend
school.
8. Lebanon
Education Challenges
• Complementing and supporting reform in key areas within the educational landscape
that are associated with high quality “teaching and learning” and student achievement
• Improving access to and quality of information for teachers and administrators
• Developing mechanisms for curriculum development in a manner consistent with
national needs and global trends
• Minimizing the gap between the state and private schools
• Developing inclusive education in state and private schools
9. Lebanon
Why partner with Lebanon? What are the benefits
for pupils?
A real life global context for the whole curriculum .
Learning is real, relevant and exciting, and builds motivation and self-confidence.
Understanding Lebanon and middle eastern culture, society and education
Helping students understanding their rights and responsibilities as global citizens.
Preparing students for work in a global economy and building a fairer, more
sustainable world.
Motivation to build trust between communities in Lebanon and the UK.
10. Lebanon
What are the benefits for teachers and educators?
A chance to improve teaching skills and the curriculum by sharing best practice
Opportunities to visit your partner school in Lebanon with the British Council.
A greater understanding of other countries, their cultures and their education
systems.
Recognition for your school through the British Council's International School
Award.
Resources to help you explore social, environmental, and cultural themes.
Access to online British Council run professional development courses.
A way to engage your local community and connect with other local schools.
11. Lebanon
How can the British Council help you partner with
Lebanon?
We can support you in:
Finding a partner – or school ‘cluster’ partner - and helping you apply
Funding your partnership
Managing your visit safely – e.g. help with local travel and accommodation.
Advice and support every step of the way
12. Lebanon
Which areas of Lebanon can you visit?
British Council manages regular UK school partner visits to host schools in line with
FCO travel advice, across the country
British Council Lebanon also works with the Ministry of Education and the local District
Education Officers to make visits successful
13. Lebanon
Next steps
Register on the British Council Schools Online site
http://schoolsonline.britishcouncil.org/
British Council will suggest potential school partners in Lebanon and connect you
Develop a joint application for a Connecting Classrooms partnership grant
Deadlines each term so apply when you and your partner school are ready
For more info, please email schools@britishcouncil.org or
14. Lebanon
Case study - one
Frances Olive Anderson Primary School, Gainsborough
and
Mohammad Shamel School, Beirut Lebanon
15. Lebanon
Background
• Partners since September 2012.
• Curriculum Projects- Eco Bags and Road Safety.
• Connecting Classrooms Grant applied for in February 2013.
• Visit made to Lebanon May 2013, International Coordinator from partner school visiting
September 2013.
• joint curriculum projects
• relevant to children
• Skype link at end of the each project = real life audience.
“I never thought that I would be able to
use my English with students far from
Lebanon.”
16. Lebanon
Example project Eco Friendly Bags
• Based on common problem
• covered many subject areas including, science, art citizenship and design technology
=embrace as part of creative curriculum and not a hindrance on teaching time
17. Lebanon
Case Study two –
The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
with The Republic of Lebanon
Practical things - plan for:
– varying length of the school day
– differences in term dates
– differences in exam cycles
– differences in time zones
– a variety of ICT systems
– the complexities in finance
– the positive contribution teachers in both countries can make
– differences in education systems
– using your existing curriculum to support projects
– differences in safeguarding procedures
– use of language - misinterpretation
18. Lebanon
Case Study
Take account of: Cultural differences
– gender – dietary requirements – dress – modesty or lack of confidence with spoken
English
Successes:
– joint curriculum work established in all schools
– communications between International Coordinators have been good
– visits: UK to Lebanon and Lebanon to UK were all high quality on both a cultural and school
level
– communications between teachers have been rewarding
– teachers, pupils and students in both countries have been very keen to work on the
projects
– a sense of excitement and anticipation has pervaded the schools
– both sets of pupils learn a lot about their respective counterparts, both
how they live their lives and about the area/country that they live in
19. Lebanon
Case Study
Successes
– teachers, pupils and students in both countries have been very keen to work on the
projects
– a sense of excitement has pervaded the clusters
– there is a sense of anticipation as both sets of pupils and students await a response to
their contribution
– both sets of pupils learn a lot about their respective counterparts, both
how they live their lives and about the area/country that they live in
– the exchange visits were very rewarding from both sets of teachers understanding the
partnership country and from the dialogue generated during the partnership
conferences and video conferences
20. Lebanon
Some of our projects
eTale – one line of a story sent by email – other pupils add a sentence until story is finished
Writing and exchanging letters/cards/develop electronic communication
Making a photographic archive of our environment to exchange via email
Planting projects - vegetables – exchange of seeds/ vegetables/oak and cedar
Shadow puppets with music
My journey to school – written, illustrated and/or photographed
virtual sports/Olympic Games -exchanging sports day results awarding medals
Tourism: Finding out about each others’ country and places to visit – create DVD/Powerpoint
To create a Partnership Mosaic
‘Myself, My Community, My Country’- Cross-curricular projects. – create a video
ICT - create a Powerpoint presentation ‘Myself’ to send to the partner school.
My School - children create a newsletter/newspaper about life in their school to send to partner school
Media – partner schools participate in the BBC School Report initiative
Tourism awareness: places to visit in each others country
Folk Dance/Song: Learning about each other’s culture through traditional dance/song - Dabke
dance/Maypole dancing – DVD exchanged
Geography, RE, History- Students describe features of the geography, history, culture of the Lebanon
and complete a 1 hour challenge: finish a set of small tasks to win ‘jigsaw pieces’ to make a Lebanon
map.
