October 1, 2026
Today, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Lebanon witnessed the signing of the agreement for the “Our Curriculum” project, funded by a French grant worth 4 million euros through the French Development Agency, to support the implementation of the reform of pre-university general education curricula. The agreement was signed by the Minister of Education and Higher Education, Rima Karami, the Head of the Educational Center for Research and Development, Professor Hiam Ishaq, and the French Ambassador to Lebanon, Patrick Durel.
The signing ceremony was attended by the representative of the French Development Agency in Lebanon, Alicia Burnet, and the Director General of Education, Fadi Yarak, along with the heads of the relevant units in the ministry, officials of the agency and the educational center, and an elite group of educators representing the public and private sectors.
In her speech, Minister Rima Karami stressed that the agreement embodies the strength of the partnership in support of Lebanon and investment in its future, considering that the financial and technical support represents “evidence of confidence” in Lebanese institutions and their ability to lead ambitious reform, and in education as a basic pillar for rebuilding the nation. She pointed out that curriculum reform goes beyond simply changing programs and extends to students’ experience, the way they learn, and the skills they acquire, pointing out that the Ministry seeks – despite crises and turmoil – to protect the continuity of education and lay the foundations for a future educational system.
For his part, French Ambassador Patrick Durel stressed the need to place the quality of education at the heart of educational reform, stressing that the real challenge is not limited to ensuring access to school, but rather extends it to include the quality of learning and acquired skills.
For her part, Professor Hiam Ishaq explained that the new funding framework enhances the educational center’s ability to work, innovate and govern, with a focus on the quality of education, equity and inclusion. She explained that the project aims to provide Lebanese youth with future tools based on contemplation, analysis, and creativity, as well as integrating digital transformation, media education, and environmental and climate awareness in a way that enhances social cohesion.
The launch of the “Our Curriculum” project comes to modernize the education system in Lebanon, whose current curricula date back to 1997. The Educational Center had launched in December 2022, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and national authorities, a national framework for curricula for general pre-university education to be a reference for the shift towards a system based on competencies and the learner.
Through this project, the French Development Agency will contribute to supporting the structural reform of the Lebanese education system in cooperation with the Educational Center, by translating the national framework into practical guidelines and tools, developing teachers’ skills, and implementing the new program in line with the priorities of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.
