ESIS extension / Lebanon / www Indicators / Update Memo 4

April 2000	Update: Lebanon

Minimal changes have been observed during the quarter under review compared to that of October – December 1999. It is worth mentioning that a structural reform is underway at the Ministry of Education and Youth that could bring the number of primary and secondary schools to drop. This reform is aiming at improving the efficiency of schools and better using the human resources in the education sector. It has been also disclosed by the Minister of Education, Mr Mohamed Youssef BEYDOUN, that a budget constraint is also behind the expected move.

The number of schools appearing on the website is still low. It is however expected to rise sharply in the near future due to two reasons :

A recent Network has been authorized by the Governement to provide course assistance to public and private schools < www.cartage.org.lb >. This is expected to promote the use of Internet and hence induce better visibility on the Web.
Recent fundamental upolating in the Education sector made it mandatory for schools to teach and use in teaching the new technologies. A vast computerization program is underway along with intensive trainny for the teachers. Therefore, the same influence, as above cited, is expected.

The situation is at present as follows :

	Total number of "population"	Total number of Web sites	% of website / total number of "population"	Source (see below the explanation)
Primary and secondary schools	2300 approx	52	2%	1
High schools and universities	23	14	61%	2
National ministries	30	18	60%	3
Regional and local authorities (regions, departments/counties, municipalities)	150	17	11%	3
Hospitals/clinics	154	7	5%	3
Museums	3	2	66%	3
Libraries	10	4	40%	3

Sources:

1. The main source of information is the Ministry of Education but no recent report has been published about the schools population ; the figures given are therefore estimations taken from the National Pedagogy Research Center < www.cnrdp.gov.lb >.

2. Ministry of Education and the Francophone Agency AUPELF grouping universities and other higher learning institutions having the french language in common: < www.lb.refer.org >.

3. Internet search and preliminary field research and < www.lebanon-online.com >, < www.sodetel.net.lb >.

Please note that this report has been prepared under the sole responsibility of the ESIS II contractors.
It does not necessarily reflect the views of the Commission, nor does the Commission accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of information contained herein.
The ESIS Team of contractors welcomes any additional information or corrections.