Political Economy of Education in Lebanon Research for Results Program
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Political Economy of Education in Lebanon Research for Results Program Husein Abdul-Hamid and Mohamed Yassine INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN FOCUS INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN FOCUS Political Economy of Education in Lebanon Research for Results Program HUSEIN ABDUL-HAMID AND MOHAMED YASSINE © 2020 International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433 Telephone: 202-473-1000; Internet: www.worldbank.org Some rights reserved 1 2 3 4 23 22 21 20 Books in this series are published to communicate the results of Bank research, analysis, and operational experience with the least possible delay. The extent of language editing varies from book to book. This work is a product of the staff of The World Bank with external contributions. The findings, interpre- tations, and conclusions expressed in this work do not necessarily reflect the views of The World Bank, its Board of Executive Directors, or the governments they represent. 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Contents Acknowledgments ix About the Authors xi Abbreviations xiii Overview 1 The value of system-level research and the political economy approach 1 Features of the education system in Lebanon 2 How is the system performing? 7 Why is the system not reaching its full potential? 16 Summing up the system and framing the drivers and interconnections 17 The path to the future of education 20 Policy dialogue and institutionalization of the research uptake 23 Notes 24 References 24 CHAPTER 1 Background, Methodology, Research, and Evidence 27 Main messages 27 Introduction 28 Methodology 30 The R4R program 31 Building on previous education research in Lebanon 32 CHAPTER 2 A Historical Perspective on Education in Lebanon 39 Main messages 39 Introduction 41 The constitution: Setting the freedom of private education providers 41 Postindependence reforms: Setting the organization of the education sector 45 Post–civil war reforms: Toward building national identity and social cohesion 45 Contemporary sector development reforms: Toward achieving the millennium development goals 47 Response to the Syrian refugee crisis: Reaching All Children with Education (RACE) 48 Education 2030: Toward achieving the sustainable development goals 52 Conclusion 52 Notes 54 References 54 iii iv | POLITICAL Economy OF Education IN Lebanon CHAPTER 3 Public Perception of Education versus Reality 57 Main messages 57 Introduction 59 How to read perception surveys 60 Perception of education quality 60 Perception of teachers, teaching methods, and student assessments 62 Perception of school curricula and textbooks 64 Perception of school management and parents’ engagement 66 Perception of school climate and violence 67 Perception of school infrastructure and facilities 70 Perception of access to education 72 Perception of the impact of the Syrian refugee crisis on the education system 74 Perception of the education experience by the Syrian refugee population 76 Perception of education reforms and priorities 78 Perception versus reality 81 Learning outcomes 82 Equity 86 Conclusion 89 Notes 90 References 91 CHAPTER 4 Government Commitment to Education 93 Main messages 93 Introduction 96 Public and private expenditures on education 97 Internal efficiency in government spending 100 Teacher workload 105 School construction and distribution 108 External efficiency and returns on education investment 109 Equity and inclusion 112 Public-private partnerships 116 Impact of the Syrian refugee crisis on education sector financing 119 Conclusion 121 Notes 123 References 123 CHAPTER 5 Analysis of the Cornerstones of Education 125 Main messages 125 Introduction 127 Education stakeholders: Roles, responsibilities, and interests 128 Decision making, planning, and policy execution 148 Conclusion 168 Notes 170 References 170 CHAPTER 6 The Path to the Future of Education 173 Introduction 173 Revisiting the last education strategic plan 173 Development targets for the education system 174 Framing the theory of change using systems thinking 176 Summing up the system and framing the drivers and interconnections 176 Forward-looking reform angles 183 Energizing the ecological layers and political will to strengthen education 184 Strengthening governance, institutionalization, and internal organization 186 Contents | v Reducing gaps and inequity within and between schools 187 Evaluating and scaling up innovations servicing schools 188 Strengthening the regulatory framework guiding school performance 190 Strengthening data systems to track budgets, personnel, and infrastructure 191 Improving institutional capacity 192 Long-term institutionalization of research and research uptake 193 References 194 APPENDIX A Bibliography 195 APPENDIX B Public Perception Study Methodology 211 APPENDIX C Dialogue and Protocol for Policy Uptake 215 Boxes 2.1 Foreign curriculum and foreign language policy in Lebanon 43 2.2 Educating Palestinian refugees: The UNRWA school system in Lebanon 50 2.3 Alignment with the international and global education agendas 53 5.1 Example of alignment of objectives 129 5.2 Legislation on the organizational structure of the Ministry of Education 131 5.3 Legislation on compulsory and free education 132 5.4 Factors leading to the adoption of the 1997 curriculum 132 5.5 Short terms of ministers of education 133 5.6 Instability in the Director General of Education position, 1994–2007 134 5.7 Coordination between the CERD and the DGE 135 5.8 Coordination between the Lebanese University, MEHE, and CERD 136 5.9 Limitations of the Education Inspectorate 137 5.10 Recruitment of DOPS counselors 138 5.11 The power of private schools 140 5.12 Examples of roles played by teachers’ associations 141 5.13 Municipal councils’ role in education 142 5.14 The private school subsidy system and parents’ incentives for public school improvement 144 5.15 NFE framework as an example of MEHE-CERD-CSO partnership 146 5.16 The SIP program, an example for improving decision making at the school level 150 5.17 The case of the Lebanese history curriculum 151 5.18 The approvals processes could be lengthy 153 5.19 A review of the SIMS 155 5.20 Example of feedback loops and evidence-based planning and decision making 156 5.21 Textbook allocations 160 5.22 Lebanon’s PPP model for education 166 6.1 Example of the school network in Saida and its neighboring towns 189 Figures O.1 Distribution of Lebanese students by education sector, 2018 2 O.2 Number of Lebanese students by education sector 3 O.3 Public expenditures in general education over time 4 O.4 Breakdown of government expenditures on the general education sector 4 O.5 Public and private education expenditures as percentage of