All Commitments made by Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Lebanon

Policy, legislation and its implementation
The Lebanese Government represented by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education commits to working on a national strategy that supports inclusive education for all students with disabilities and learning difficulties in a safe and accepting environment by enhancing  institutionalization and collaboration between Ministries and governmental institutions.

Timeframe and/or implementation plan

• The Child Protection policy was signed and a pilot project testing the referral system is being implemented. 
• A curriculum for psychosocial support activities will be finalised and implemented in schools. 
• The gender committee established at MEHE pledges to work on reducing and eliminating gender related issues.
• A National committee including representatives from relevant ministries and governmental institutions has been formed and is working on developing a national strategy promoting inclusive education.

Inclusive education sector plans 
National scale up of inclusive education within Lebanon’s 2030 strategy and effective implementation through Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE)’s annual operational plan, informed by evidence from the inclusive education pilot.

Timeframe and/or implementation plan 
MEHE’sannual operational plan, with the financial support of donors, will integrate inclusion starting from 2018.    By 2020, the inclusive education pilot will increase the enrolment of children with disabilities in the pilot schools, equip teachers and other education personnel with the essential skills to foster inclusive education and increase the awareness of families, caregivers, and community leaders about inclusive education rights, opportunities, and the importance of school-family collaboration. A national inclusive education policy will be drafted based on evidence from pilot.

Policy, standards and regulations
Accessibility will be promoted in MEHE’s investments in school construction, rehabilitation and equipment based on MEHE building standards based on the “Guidelines and Standards Organizing the Construction of Public Schools”.

Timeframe and/or implementation plan  

• All newly built schools will be made accessible based on MEHE building standards
• In collaboration with non-governmental organisations, public schools will be rehabilitated to make them accessible.

Design of a new flexible curriculum that promotes differentiation and inclusive learning for all children.

Timeframe and/or implementation plan 
A curriculum revision process is underway as of 2018 and will be designed to ensure inclusion.

Other
The School Information Management system will be employed for systematic tracking of students with disabilities 

Timeframe and/or implementation plan
MEHE has deployed a new School Information Management System (SIMS). This programme will strengthen the evaluation and monitoring of performance indicators, including information on children with disabilities, to improve equity of access to quality education.

Additional resources
MEHE is integrating technology in education to improve teaching and learning environments for all students especially those with disabilities. 

Timeframe and/or implementation plan 
Building capacity of educational coaches and teachers and equipping classrooms with the needed technological tools and equipment, to promote interactive teaching methods.

Gender based violence (GBV) will be reduced and eventually eliminated for all women including those with disability. 

Timeframe and/or implementation plan 
A gender committee has been formed and is coordinating with other organisations to end gender based violence. The curriculum will be amended in such a way as to remove gender bias from pictures and texts in school books.

Schools will ensure a safe and friendly environment for Lebanese and non- Lebanese students including Syrian refugees. 

Timeframe and/or implementation plan
An afternoon shift has been open in public schoolsand a non-formal education (NFE) regularization framework was formed to guide and coordinate the different NFE programs and to supportvulnerable children back into formal education. This allows all non-Lebanese students to enrol in school irrespective of their gender, socioeconomic status, physiological, mental, or physical conditions. The Child Protection, PSS, health, and inclusion projects are being implemented in afternoon shift schools.