Beirut, 13 November 2025
The British Council and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE) have renewed their strategic partnership under the English and School Education Programme to advance education reform, strengthen school leadership, and promote inclusive and equitable learning across Lebanon.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by H.E. Dr Rima Karami, Minister of Education and Higher Education, and Mayssa Dawi Hachem, Country Director of the British Council in Lebanon, in the presence of Amir Ramzan, Regional Director, British Council MENA, Hamish Cowell, UK Ambassador to Lebanon, Dr Hyam Ishak, President of the Centre for Educational Research and Development (CERD), Dr Hilda El Khoury, Director of Counselling and Guidance Department at MEHE, and senior representatives from MEHE and CERD.
This signing builds on the Memorandum of Understanding signed in June 2023 under the Schools Connect programme, which focused on enhancing school leadership, curriculum development, and education policy reform. The renewed agreement reaffirms the long-standing collaboration between the Ministry and the British Council, reflecting a shared commitment to inclusive, equitable and high-quality education that empowers Lebanon’s young people and contributes to the country’s social and economic development.
Through this partnership, both organisations will continue to strengthen joint efforts on policy-level reform, leadership development, curriculum enhancement, English in education, and inclusion strategies. The collaboration will also advance professional development opportunities for school leaders and teachers across Lebanon’s public schools, equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and tools needed to deliver improved learning outcomes.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mayssa Dawi Hachem, Country Director, British Council Lebanon, said: “We are proud to renew our strategic partnership with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education under the English and School Education Programme. This collaboration builds on years of joint effort to enhance teaching quality, empower school leaders, and promote inclusion across Lebanon’s education system. Together, we are working to ensure that every learner has access to high-quality, inclusive education that opens pathways to opportunity, social mobility, and sustainable development.”
H.E. Dr Rima Karami, Minister of Education and Higher Education, said: “The British Council has long been a trusted partner to the Ministry, and together we will continue to build the capacities of our educators, empower our schools, and inspire a generation ready to shape Lebanon’s future”
The British Council’s English and School Education programme continues to strengthen English in education, enhance school leadership, and promote inclusive learning in partnership with MEHE and CERD — supporting Lebanon’s national education priorities and reinforcing the UK’s long-standing support for the country’s education sector and its future prosperity.
About the British Council
The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. We do this through our work in arts and culture, education and the English language. We work with people in over 200 countries and territories and are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2022–23 we reached 600 million people.