1. AME Education Sector Profile
Lebanon

2. Lebanon Education Structure
Education System Structure and Enrollments 2007
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics, World Bank EdStats
Note: Sub-sections are not in proportion. All data, preprimay-12, include all programs, public and private, academic and vocational. Public tertiary education includes both public and private academic and vocational courses of study. Private share (pink color) denotes private provision of education.
Data Notes: Enrollment Configuration 2007
Whole Numbers NER GER Private Share
Pre-primary 150, % 66.40% 77.9%
Primary 450, % 95.40% 67.6%
Lower Secondary 202,269 N/A 86.90% 57.5%
Upper Secondary 166,090 N/A 74.90% 46.9%
TVET Secondary 42,780 N/A 14% 54.6&
Total Secondary 411, % 81.10% 53.7%
Tertiary 187,055 N/A 51.60%
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. World Bank EdStats

3. Lebanon Education Structure
Compulsory education in Lebanon is from grades 1-9.
Education Configuration and Enrollment Percentages
% Net Enrollments
% Gross Enrollments
Classification
Level/Grade
Ages
2007
Pre-primary
Pre-school
3-5
64%
67%
Pre-university
Primary, grades 1-6
6-11
83%
95%
Lower Secondary, grades 7-9
12-14
73%
87%
Upper secondary, grades 10-12
15-17
75%
TVET Secondary
14%
Tertiary
Undergraduate study
17-22
N/A
52%*
Graduate study
22+
* Includes all of secondary. ** Includes all categories of post-secondary.
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics,
Note: Gross enrollments are not much in excess of the net enrollments indicating that there are not many over-age children enrolled at grade level. Net enrollments are reasonably high showing the system is working well to get most children into school at the appropriate age and keep them in attendance. The country is on track to achieve Universal Primary Enrollment by 2015.
Definitions: N/A – Not Applicable
Net enrollment: Ratio of children of official school age for a particular grade or education level, enrolled in a particular grade or level, expressed as a percentage of the population in that same age group.
Gross enrollment: Total enrolment (regardless of age), as a percentage of the population in the official age group corresponding to a particular level of education.
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics,

4. Lebanon Population Structure
53% of the population is under the age of 30 but that age group is not projected to grow much larger in the nearer term.
Good educational opportunities for these young people are necessary to support national economic growth.
Source: International Labor Organization
Analysis: 53% of the population is under the age of 30. Good educational opportunities for these young people will ensure a continuing supply of capable workers into the future.
Note: Population data is based on estimates and projections from Household Surveys, National Census Surveys, etc. used to define and describe active working populations for employment and labor market analysis.
Data Notes: Population Structure: Lebanon 2008
% Whole Numbers (000)
0-14 yrs 27.40% 1,136
15-29 yrs 26.00% 1081
30-65 yrs % 1,620
65+ yrs 7.60% 305
Totals: % 4,142
Source: International Labor Organization

5. Lebanon Relevant Policies: Education Policy
Social Action Plan Toward Strengthening Social Safety Nets and Access To Basic Social Services,
Development Plan for Education in Lebanon, [in French]
Source:
Analysis: Lebanon does not seem to have a strong policy framework in place with which to guide education reform.
Data Notes:
Republic of Lebanon Social Action Plan towards Strengthening Social Safety Nets and Access to Basic Social Services (2007):
Improving access to primary education.
Reducing drop-out and repetition.
Finalizing a national education sector reform strategy.
2. Development Plan for Education in Lebanon, [in French – not able to understand].

6. Lebanon Education Access: Pre-university
Secondary enrollments have increased at a marginally greater rate since at an average of 7.2% than primary education at 5.4%.
Enrollments are quite high indicating the strength of the system to draw children to school.
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics, World Bank EdStats
Analysis: Continued growth of pre-university levels bodes well for attainment of UPE and near capacity of secondary level in the near future.
Data: Pre-primary and TVET Secondary (gross), primary and secondary (net)
Pre-university Enrollments
Preprimary (GER) Primary TVET Secondary (GER) Total Secondary
% % 27% %
% % 28% %
Difference 4% 5.4% 1% 7.2%
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics, World Bank EdStats

7. Education Access: Tertiary
Lebanon
Education Access: Tertiary
Despite rising university enrollments (18% since 2000), distribution of students among levels of study has remained remarkably stable.
Higher education produces few graduate degrees, perhaps an indication of difficulties of students to matriculate through the system.
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Analysis: Higher education is offered predominantly by private institutions. The system consists of 41 private colleges/universities, and one public one, The Lebanon University, which enrolls 45% of all university students. Recent reports are indicating high rates of first-year enrollment and then sharp drops in second-year promotion. Despite exceptions, the system lacks the ‘ability and readiness to offer support services to students that improve the chances of their enrollment and pursuing their studies’; therefore a dearth of students at the graduate-level exists. They have difficulty matriculating through the system. Other issues noted: the lack of available educational programs, limited resources, the absence of a sound educational environment, the lack of a guidance and orientation system for students, and a drop in educational attainment. For example, the gross completion rate for 4 year degrees in 2007 was 30%. (UNESCO (2009) A Decade of Higher Education in the Arab States: Achievements and Challenges.) On the other hand, Lebanon possesses several internationally-known and well-qualified universities and Lebanese professionals find jobs the world over.
Data Notes: University Enrollments
GER
% 4 yr
% 2-3 yr
% graduate
Definitions:
4 yr: a 4-year degree equivalent to a Bachelor’s
2-3 yr: associate degrees and/or certificates for a vocational course of study
Graduate: advanced research-based degrees requiring a Bachelor degree first = Master’s or PhD degrees
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics

8. Education Access: Gender
Lebanon
Education Access: Gender
Girls are more successful at accessing secondary education with an enrollment rate 7% higher than boys’ rate.
Gender parity (0.97) has nearly been achieved at the primary level with almost equal boys’ and girls’ enrollments.
Source: World Bank EdStats
Analysis: Gender parity index for primary is 0.97 and for secondary, 1.12.
Data Notes: Pre-university Net Enrollments by Gender
Primary Boys 92.2% 87.7% 84.8% 82.3% 83.6%
Girls 90.7% 86.1% 84.0% 81.5% 82.8%
Secondary Boys 61.8% % 70.0%
Girls 71.1% % 77.1%
Source: World Bank EdStats

9. Education Quality: Teachers
Lebanon
Education Quality: Teachers
Lebanon has approximately 88,000 teachers in general education.
11-13% of all teachers, grades1-12, are trained but no further information can be found on the process or requirements of professional development.
The average teacher to pupil ratio for grades 1-12 is 11:1 which seems sufficient to cover all classes but may be low in efficiency terms.
Information on teacher recruitment, deployment, qualification standards and training in the public and private sector is limited.
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Analysis:
Notes: Teacher Information 2007
Whole Numbers % Trained PTR
Primary 32,
L. Secondary 19,
U. Secondary 21,
Total: 73,331 Average:
Number of teachers All Types
Public Semi-private Private Total
Total 39, ,
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics

10. Education Quality: Completion
Lebanon
Education Quality: Completion
Completion rates declined 13% from but have since seen a slight rise.
Girls are consistently more successful at completing primary school.
Source: World Development Indicators (WDI)
Data Notes: Primary Completion Rates by Gender
Boys
Girls
Total
Source: World Development Indicators (WDI)

11. Education Quality: Testing
Lebanon
Education Quality: Testing
Lebanon students achieved the highest mean math score (449) of MENA participant countries on the 2007 test but continue to rank at the low-intermediate level internationally (31 out of 45).
2007 mean TIMSS scores improved an average of 18 points from 2003 scores.
Source: Trends in International Math and Science Study
Analysis: Lebanon participated in the 2003 and 2007 TIMSS for grade 8 students. Mean scores improved an average of 18 point from 2003 to 2007 but the majority of students still score at or about the low benchmark of 400. The improvement in scores seems to indicate that the government is attempting to address the issue of low student academic achievement by improving quality of education.
Definition: TIMSS: Trends in International Math and Science Study, a test of math and science for 4th and 8th graders, is used to compare educational achievement on an international basis. The exam tests student knowledge of basic math and science concepts which should be standard curricula offerings for grade 4 and 8 learners.
Data Notes: Mean Gr 8 TIMSS Scores MENA 2007
Egypt Jordan Lebanon Morocco WB/G Singapore USA
Science
Math
Low Benchmark 400 Comparison: Country Rank 2007
Inter. Benchmark 475 Math /45
High Benchmark 550 Science /45
Adv Benchmark 625
Source: Trends in International Math and Science Study 2007

12. Education Equity: Academic Disparities
Lebanon
Education Equity: Academic Disparities
Expenditure on pre-university private education amounts to 6% of the GDP.
Approximately 60% of all Lebanese children attend private school.
Source: Lebanon Ministry of Education
Analysis: In a reverse trend, the largest provision of private education is at the primary level rather than the secondary level. Governments generally seem to support lower levels of the system first and allow the private sector to come in at the upper and more expensive levels. Private schooling in Lebanon costs double the expense per pupil than public education (C. Nahas (2009) Financing Higher Education in Lebanon, Economic Research Forum, Amman, Jordan); however the quality of education appears to be better at private institutions and parents are willing to pay for their students to attend. Because of the expense involved, the system tends to segregate poorer students out of private education thereby creating parallel systems of education, a more expensive one of better quality for richer students and a lesser one, cheaper but of lower quality for poorer students.
Notes: The government exerts control of private education by requiring licensing and the passing of the baccalaureate exam by all graduates at the end of secondary level. This requirement therefore also forces private schools to follow the official government curriculum.
Data notes: Pre-University Public/Private Enrollments
Public Semi-Private Private
Preprimary 22.1% 16.0% 61.8%
Primary 32.4% 22.2% 45.4%
Junior Secondary 42.4% 0.0% 57.6%
Secondary 53.1% 0.0% 46.9%
Total 35.6% 13.5% 50.9%
Definitions:
Semi-private: Privately managed schools which receive government subsidies. Are counted together with tuition-based private schools when public and private provision of education is discussed.
Private: Privately managed schools which are tuition-based. Often are run by religious organizations/communities.
Source: Lebanon Ministry of Education

13. Education Efficiency: Expenditure
Lebanon
Education Efficiency: Expenditure
Lebanon is the lowest spender on education in the region but together with the large expenditures of the private sector, education is well-supported in the country.
Source: World Bank EdStats
Analysis: Between the public and private expenditures, education is well-supported in the country. The government should use its smaller budget to drive improved quality in public schools thereby allowing poorer students to receive a better education also without the cost of a private education.
Data notes:
Share of Public Spending % Share of GDP %
Egypt
Jordan
Yemen
Lebanon
Morocco
West Bank/Gaza
MENA
OECD 1 5
Definitions:
OECD: Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development
MENA: Middle East North Africa
Source: World Bank EdStats, World Bank 2008, Yemen Ministry of Higher Education

14. Education Efficiency: Expenditure
Lebanon
Education Efficiency: Expenditure
As a result of focused spending on pre-university levels , enrollments have consistently increased. Now the government needs to focus on improving quality of education in the classroom.
Source: World Bank EdStats
Analysis:
Data notes:
Primary 35.50%
Secondary 30.00%
Tertiary 25.30%
Other 9.20%
Source: World Bank EdStats

15. Education Efficiency: Repetition
Lebanon
Education Efficiency: Repetition
Repetition rates at both levels are quite high and have not declined significantly over the years.
Source: World Development Indicators (WDI)
Analysis:
Data Notes: Pre-university Repetition Rates
Primary
Secondary
Source: World Development Indicators (WDI)

16. Lebanon Education Efficiency: Repetition
Using repetition as an indicator of quality, private schools provide a better education than public schools do.
Private schools have minimal percentages of two or more year repeaters while public schools have 4-11% more across all levels.
Source: Lebanon Ministry of Education
Analysis: Public schools at all levels do a poorer job of transitioning children through the grades without repetition. This is most likely a factor of poorly qualified teachers and poor classroom teaching and learning processes. Lebanon apparently has enough teachers but they are seemingly poorly trained. The private sector employs more teachers than the public sector and they earn 3 times the salary that public teachers do which might have an effect on their motivation and attendance. Little information is available on the professional development, recruitment, and quality assessment processes of the teaching force. Information on the actual quality of private education is limited.
Data Notes: Percentage Repeaters by Type of School
Repeated 1 Yr, Repeated Two+ Yrs,
Primary Public 6.0% 7.2%
Private 6.2% 3.1%
Total 12.3% 10.3%
Lower Secondary Public 10.9% 15.1%
Private 8.6% 4.2%
Total 19.5% 19.2%
Secondary Public 13.1% 11.4%
Private 6.8% 2.6%
Total 19.8% 14.0%
Source: Lebanon Ministry of Education

17. Education Efficiency: Repetition
Lebanon
Education Efficiency: Repetition
Lebanon is the poorest performing country in the region as far as public expenditure on education and addressing the repetition issue.
Source: World Bank EdStats
Analysis:
Data Notes: Public Education Expenditure and Repetition MENA region
Repetition % GDP
Morocco
Jordan 1.1 6
Egypt 4.4 4
Lebanon
Yemen
MENA 7.8 4
OECD 5.6
Definitions:
MENA: Middle East and North Africa
OECD: Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development
Source: World Bank EdStats

18. Education: Conclusion
Lebanon
Education: Conclusion
Successes:
Access: High primary and rising secondary enrollments. Approaching gender parity at primary. On track to attain UPE.
Quality: Improving scores on the TIMSS. Highest math score regionally.
Equity:
Efficiency: Equitable division of budget across education levels.
Challenges:
Access: Lower access rates for males from secondary level on up.
Quality: High and intractable repetition rates. Poorly qualified teachers.
Equity: Parallel education system offered by the private sector which favors wealthier students.
Efficiency: Inadequate education expenditures to address repetition rates.