Lebanon Adopts Level-Based Education Model
Lebanon’s education system has been severely disrupted by ongoing economic instability, the COVID-19 pandemic, the Beirut port explosion, and recent conflicts. The 2018 PISA results already placed Lebanon among the lowest-ranked countries globally, with two-thirds of students failing to meet basic proficiency levels in math, reading, and science. Continued crises have only worsened learning losses, threatening students’ long-term economic prospects and the country’s future workforce.
According to the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE), over 550,000 students and 45,000 teachers have been directly affected by the recent conflict. More than 1,000 shelters have been opened nationwide, with over 60% located in public schools, vocational training centers, and university buildings. In this context, innovative strategies are needed to accelerate recovery in education.
The Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) approach, which tailors instruction to students' actual learning levels rather than their age or grade, is proving to be an effective solution. A pilot program conducted among third- and fourth-grade students in Lebanon demonstrated notable improvements in literacy, math, and foreign language skills. By the end of the program, reading proficiency in pilot schools improved by 31%, with similar gains in math and foreign language skills. Students reported increased confidence and engagement, while teachers and school leaders observed significant improvements in classroom dynamics.