21 August 2008

BEIRUT: Education Minister Bahia Hariri announced plans to make the upcoming 2008- 2009 academic year a "real success on all levels."

"Lebanese students should make the best out of the 2008-2009 academic year, which will hopefully not be interrupted by any security incidents," Hariri said during a meeting with 15 former education ministers.

The first-of-its-kind meeting gathered education ministers Fouad Butros, Ghassan Tueni, Michael al-Daher, Edmond Rizk, Samir al-Jisr, Robert Ghanem, Fawzi Hobeish, Khaled Qabbani, Assad Rizk, Sami Minkara, Farouq al-Barbir, Michel Edde, Jean Obeid Abdulrahim Mrad and Butros Harb, in addition to the president of the Lebanese University Zuhair Shokr, head of the National Council for Development and Research Leila Fayyad, and director general of the Education Ministry Fadi Yarak.

"Your expertise and input are highly valuable to us and will contribute in reforming the education sector, which is one of the most vital sectors." Hariri told her guests at the education ministry in Verdun.

The sister of slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri said it was "high time" to introduce "drastic and conclusive" reforms to the education sector.

"However," she added, "reforms should culminate sooner or later so that we can move from being a developing country into being a productive and developed one."

Hariri said it was crucial to introduce the concept of sustainable development to school curriculums, "because schools and universities should be open to the society they live in."

"It is important that we all realize that strengthening the Lebanese will reflect on the overall situation in Lebanon," she said, adding that concepts such as "educational solidarity" and "continuing education" should be promoted "to build a better society."

Hariri said Lebanese students should be made aware about their environment, society and economy. 

"Stability and security in Lebanon starts in schools and universities, "Hariri said.

Former education ministers attending the meeting spoke about their experiences at the ministry and suggested steps that should be undertaken to reform the education sector.

Tueni said cutting sectarianism from the Lebanese curriculum should be a main objective.

"It's unacceptable that Christian and Muslim students know nothing about each other," he added.

Rizk, meanwhile suggested the formation of a mini-committee of former education ministers "to follow up on matters discussed during this meeting and engage in further discussions about the education sector."

Hariri promised her guests that she would raise the issue in the next Cabinet meeting on Thursday. - The Daily Star