“Building peaceful and sustainable futures through transformative education”, a National Forum for UNESCO Associated schools network organized, under the patronage and presence of H.E. the Minister of Education and Higher Education Judge Abbas El Halabi , on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Lebanese National Commission for UNESCO and the 70th anniversary of the UNESCO ASPnet on 3 & 4 November 2023 at Couvent Notre Dame du Puits-Jal el Dib-Lebanon, thanks to the support of UNESCO participation programme and in coordination with UNESCO ASPnet.
After the national anthem, a moment of silent was dedicated in honour of innocent people, martyrs that lost their lives in Lebanon and Palestine. The opening ceremony was marked by emotional and historical speeches delivered by H.E. the Minister of Education and Higher education Judge Abbas El Halabi, the Secretary General of the Lebanese National Commission Ms. Hiba Nachabe and the International Coordinator of the UNESCO ASPnet Ms. Julie Saito Loubière Julie Saito (video message), specially, that the National Forum was organized in a very delicate circumstances during war. (attached press release and speeches in Arabic).
Distinguished guests attented the opening ceremony: the President of the Center for Educational Research and Development (CERD) Prof. Hyam Ishak, Chief of Cabinet of the Minister of Education and Deputy Secretary General at the Lebanese National Commission Ms. Ramza Jaber Saad, the Secretary General of the Catholic schools Father Youssef Nasr, Representative of the UNESCO Multisectoral Regional Office in Beirut Dr. Assem Abi Ali and two experts from CERD Dr. Elie Mekhael and Dr. Blanche Abi-Assaf.
At the beginning, an overview of the ASPnet Strategy 2022-2030 as well as objectives of the Forum were presented by the ASPnet National Coordinator of the Lebanese National Commission Ms. Christiane Jeitani.
The National Forum succeeded in developing skills of sixty principals, teachers , students on the following topics delivered by renowned experts: Non-violent Communication (NVC)- Dr Rita Ayoub, Citizenship Education: Social Project Planning-Dr Lina Bitar , the importance of Social Emotional Learning in schools – Dr. Mona Mehyo and Ms. Caroline Ghosn, Entrepreneurship Education for Sustainable Development – Dr. Jinan Karameh Shayya, Introducing Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Teaching and Learning- Dr. Randa Mikati.
Plus, the participants attended a World Café where they get inspired by the testimony of Mr. Michael Haddad, UNDP REGIONAL GOODWILL AMBASSADOR FOR CLIMATE ACTION.
Furthermore, participants have been introduced by Ms. Haigo Dolamyan to TABSHOURA created by Mr. Naji Ghorra and Ms. Nayla Fahed a highly acclaimed free e-learning platform based on the Lebanese school curriculum, created by Lebanese Alternative Learning (LAL) an ed-tech NGO dedicated to providing every child with access to high-quality education through online digital programs and offline access solutions in three languages.
At the closing ceremony, the testimonies of ASPnet principals teachers and students highlighted the skills acquired and importance of organizing this kind of forum that empower them to deal with many challenges they face and learn how to use new educational concepts in their daily life.
The 60 participants came various educational, cultural, religious and regions backgrounds from the following UNESCO ASPnet: Al Hadi institute for deaf, blind and learning disabilities-Beirut, Al Kawthar Secondary School-Beirut, Antonine International School-Ajaltoun, Ecole Saint Georges Bsalim, Greenfield College-Choueifat, Hariri High School 2-Beirut, Lycée français international – Institut Moderne du Liban -Fanar , Khalid Ben El Walid School-Makassed-Beirut, Lycée Dr. Hassan Saab-Beirut, Mekhitarist Fathers School-Beirut, Niha Public School-Chouf, Omar Bin El Khattab School-Makassed -Beirut, Rafic Hariri High School Saida, Rawda Fayhaa School-Tripoli, Saint Georges School Hadath, Saint Roch Kleiat.
