Beirut: The Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE), in collaboration with France and UNICEF, has inaugurated the newly constructed Kfarzabad Secondary School in the Bekaa region. This development signifies a significant step in enhancing access to quality, inclusive, and uninterrupted education for children and young people in Lebanon.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, the construction of the school was executed by UNICEF with substantial support from France over a span of approximately two and a half years. The facility is designed to offer a modern, secure, and sustainable learning environment, featuring classrooms, laboratories, workshops, art and music rooms, a library, a multipurpose hall, and a playground. Additionally, the campus includes administrative offices, service buildings, landscaped outdoor areas, sports and recreational grounds, and parking facilities.
Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr. Rima Karami emphasized the significance of this project, stating that the inauguration of a new public secondary school is a testament to the state's capability to invest in public education and its commitment to providing quality education for every child in Lebanon. The minister highlighted the ministry's dedication to ensuring equitable education for all, irrespective of circumstances.
Lebanon's education system continues to grapple with substantial challenges, such as frequent learning disruptions due to overlapping crises and conflict. In this context, investments in public school infrastructure are crucial. Safe, resilient, and inclusive schools not only ensure continuity of learning but also offer children and adolescents stability, protection, and opportunities for future growth.
Herve Magro, Ambassador of France to Lebanon, reaffirmed France's enduring commitment to supporting Lebanon, utilizing diplomatic, political, humanitarian, and development tools to assist the Lebanese people and strengthen national institutions. Marcoluigi Corsi, UNICEF Representative in Lebanon, echoed this sentiment, expressing gratitude for France's longstanding partnership and commitment to education in Lebanon.
The school incorporates sustainable and resilient building principles, integrating environmentally friendly systems that enhance resource efficiency and lower operational costs. These systems include a solar hot water system, rainwater harvesting, a sewage treatment plant for irrigation, and a reverse osmosis water treatment system. The facility also features enhanced thermal insulation and low-emission materials to improve comfort and indoor environments for students and teachers.
To bolster energy resilience, the school is equipped with a 34 kWp solar photovoltaic system, supported by the Agence Fran§aise de D©veloppement (AFD), reducing reliance on the national electricity grid. The facility is designed to be fully accessible to children with disabilities, promoting inclusive education for all. AFD has also supported the procurement and installation of school furniture, ensuring that all learning spaces are fully equipped and ready for use. With these installations complete, the school is now fully operational, poised to provide a conducive and resilient learning environment for years to come.