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Education for Social Cohesion in Lebanon: The Educational Reform Experiment in the Wake of the Lebanese War

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Rethinking Education for Social Cohesion

Part of the book series: Education, Economy and Society ((EDECSO))

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Abstract

My contribution here addresses the educational reform experiment following the end of the Lebanese civil wars (1975–90). The reform plan aimed at establishing an educational system that would contribute to restoring and building trust among the Lebanese after a series of wars which took many forms, including wars between Lebanese and non-Lebanese, wars between Lebanese of various denominations and from different regions, and wars between Lebanese of the same denomination, the same party and the same region. The chapter will examine whether this attempt at educational reform has been successful in contributing to the restoration of trust and solidarity among Lebanese people and promoting social cohesion in Lebanon. In order to answer this question, I shall review the post-war education reform plan, its objectives and approach to promoting social cohesion, and its method of implementation. Finally, I will discuss the main challenges that I faced as a policymaker in reforming education and promoting social cohesion.

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© 2012 Mounir Abou Assali

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Assali, M.A. (2012). Education for Social Cohesion in Lebanon: The Educational Reform Experiment in the Wake of the Lebanese War. In: Shuayb, M. (eds) Rethinking Education for Social Cohesion. Education, Economy and Society. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137283900_6

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