Lebanon

🌎 Socio-political and economic context: Lebanon continues to face the combined effects of prolonged economic collapse, political instability and the consequences of the 2023–2024 conflict with Israel. A new presidency and government were formed in 2025 and launched the Homeland Shield Plan to strengthen state authority and support recovery. However, inflation, poverty, infrastructure damage and displacement continue to affect public services, economic activity and social cohesion.

🎓 Education system under pressure: Lebanon’s education system remains heavily affected by years of crisis and recent conflict. School closures, damaged infrastructure, displacement and funding shortages continue to disrupt learning. The government is implementing the Five-Year General Education Plan (2021–2025) and preparing its successor framework, while international partners continue to support learning continuity, inclusion and system recovery.

🏫 Technical and vocational education and training (TVET): The National Strategic Framework for TVET 2025–2029 provides a new reform agenda focused on access, quality, labour market relevance and stronger private-sector involvement. Reforms continue to promote competency-based curricula, apprenticeships, quality assurance and alignment with the National Qualifications Framework. However, implementation remains constrained by institutional fragmentation, limited funding and dependence on donor support.

💡 Career guidance: Career guidance continues to gain importance as a tool for employability and recovery. Lebanon is progressing towards a more structured national career guidance system through the expansion of Guidance and Employment Offices (GEOs), Career Guidance Focal Points and digital guidance initiatives. However, coverage remains uneven and institutional capacity remains limited.

🛠️ Work-based learning (WBL): Lebanon continues to promote apprenticeships, internships and workplace learning through vocational programmes and partnerships between education providers and employers. New agreements between the Directorate General for Vocational and Technical Education and industry stakeholders aim to expand practical training opportunities, although work-based learning remains limited in scale and lacks a comprehensive national framework.

💼 Labour market and employment: Labour market conditions remain extremely difficult. Employment rates are low, unemployment remains high and informal employment continues to expand. Young people, women and vulnerable populations face particular difficulties accessing quality jobs. The National Social Protection Strategy (2024) places greater emphasis on labour activation, skills development, entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods, but a comprehensive national employment strategy is still lacking.

👦 👧 Youth and vulnerability: Young people continue to be disproportionately affected by the crisis. The NEET rate remains very high, while pathways from education to employment remain fragmented. Refugees, displaced populations, women and people with disabilities face additional barriers to accessing education, training and employment opportunities.

💻 Digital skills development: Lebanon continues to invest in digital education and skills despite significant infrastructure challenges. The development of a National Digital Learning Strategy, expansion of the Forastech platform, teacher digital training and online learning initiatives aim to strengthen digital competences and improve access to learning. Nevertheless, electricity shortages, connectivity problems and unequal access continue to constrain impact.

🌿 Green skills development: Green skills are becoming more prominent within Lebanon’s education, training and employment agendas. Initiatives linked to renewable energy, environmental management, waste management and sustainable development are expanding, supported by donor-funded projects and emerging labour market opportunities in the green economy.

👉 Implement the TVET Strategic Framework 2025–2029, focusing on quality improvement, competency-based curricula, work-based learning and stronger employer engagement.

👉 Institutionalise career guidance across education and training, strengthening the transition from school to work and improving access to labour market information.

👉 Strengthen labour market activation and skills relevance, supporting entrepreneurship, employability and labour market inclusion through the implementation of the National Social Protection Strategy.

👉 Safeguard access to education and training in crisis-affected contexts, through flexible delivery models, digital learning and targeted support for vulnerable populations.

👉 Expand digital and green skills development, addressing infrastructure gaps while supporting skills needed for economic recovery, resilience and sustainable development.