1979-03-16

Chapter 1 - General Provisions

 

Article 1

The mission of the Faculty of Pedagogy at the Lebanese University includes the following:

1- Training secondary school teachers with pedagogical skills.

2- Training educational managers for various sectors of educational administration, such as inspectors, educational advisors, school principals, teachers, and others.

3- Awarding higher university degrees in education.

4- Conducting high-level educational research and studies.

5- Organizing educational conferences and symposiums and participating in those organized inside and outside the country.

6- Participating in working committees in the field of educational planning and teaching programs.

 

Article 2

The Faculty of Pedagogy comprises sections that prepare students for the following degrees:

1- Diploma of aptitude for secondary education in various specialties.

2- Diploma of aptitude for the management of a secondary school or teacher training college, for educational guidance, and for educational inspection.

3- Certificate of aptitude for other educational functions determined by decision of the University Council on the proposal of the Faculty Council and at the request or with the agreement of the Minister of National Education and Fine Arts.

4- Doctorate in education.

The faculty also includes:

1. A center for research and higher education studies

2. Model secondary schools attached to it.

 

Chapter 2: Certificate of Competence

 

Article 3

1- The duration of studies to obtain the certificate of competence is two years.

2- The curriculum and examination system for obtaining the said certificate are determined by decision of the University Council on the proposal of the Faculty Council.

 

Article 4

To be admitted to the first year of the diploma of competence, students must meet the following conditions:

1- Hold a teaching diploma, or an officially equivalent diploma, in the required specialty.

2- Pass an entrance examination, the conditions for which are set by a decree issued by the Council of Ministers.

 

Article 5

1- The number of specializations for each entrance examination for the first year of the diploma of competence is set by a decree issued by the Council of Ministers on the recommendation of the Minister of National Education and Fine Arts and after consultation with the Faculty Council.

2- The Minister of National Education and Fine Arts shall set the amount of the scholarship for each student of the diploma of competence within the limits of the credits allocated for this purpose in the budget of the Faculty of Pedagogy.

 

Article 6

1 - All students admitted to the first year of the diploma of competence must undertake, before a notary, to work for at least five years in the public education service to which they will be appointed after obtaining the diploma of competence, under penalty of a fine of one thousand Lebanese pounds for each year of study spent at the faculty, with reimbursement of the scholarship they received during their studies, if they leave the faculty, are expelled, refuse to perform the function for which they were appointed after obtaining their diploma, or are dismissed from their duties before fulfilling their commitment.

2- Graduates who are not appointed within six months of the date of graduation are exempt from the provisions of the commitment, provided that they inform the relevant administration in writing at least one month before the expiry of this period.

 

Article 7

Bachelor's degree students shall be trained, under the supervision of their professors, in model secondary schools attached to the faculty, in other secondary schools, and in teacher training centers.

 

Article 8

The diploma of competence issued by the Faculty of Pedagogy, or formerly by the Higher Institute, of the Lebanese University, shall be considered as a higher education diploma or a master's degree.

 

Article 9

The best students holding the diploma of competence may be sent abroad to pursue their pedagogical specialization within the framework of the diploma of competence they have obtained. In this case, the fulfillment of the commitment provided for in Article 6 of this decree shall be postponed until their return.

 

Chapter 3: Doctorate in Education

 

Article 10

1- Upon decision of the University Council, and upon proposal of the Faculty Council, a state doctorate in education shall be created within the Faculty of Pedagogy.

2- The curriculum and examination system for the said doctorate, as well as the conditions for admission of students to attend courses, shall be determined by decision of the University Council, on the proposal of the Faculty Council.

 

Chapter 4: Miscellaneous and transitional provisions

 

Article 11

The internal regulations of the Faculty of Pedagogy and the model secondary schools attached to it, as well as the work program and its system at the Center for Research and Higher Education, shall be determined by decision of the University Council, upon the recommendation of the Faculty Council.

 

Article 12

Pending the publication of specific regulations for the Faculty of Pedagogy, the texts previously in force concerning the appointment and full-time and hourly contracts for members of the teaching staff of the said faculty shall remain applicable.

 

Article 13

Official students enrolled in the Faculty of Pedagogy on the date of entry into force of this decree shall continue to attend classes in the said faculty and shall be subject to the previous legal and regulatory provisions.

 

Article 14

Any texts that contradict the provisions of this decree or that are not in accordance with its content are repealed, in particular Decree No. 16489 of May 29, 1964, relating to the organization of the Faculty of Pedagogy of the Lebanese University (formerly the Higher Institute for Teachers).

 

Article 15

This decree shall be published and communicated where necessary.

 

Baabda, 16 March 1979

 

Signed: Elias Sarkis

Issued by the President of the Republic

 

Reasons justifying the decree regulating the Faculty of Pedagogy of the Lebanese University

 

The new regulations governing the Faculty of Pedagogy at the Lebanese University aim to strengthen its distinctive educational role. This is clearly stated in the new regulatory decree as follows:

 

First, the faculty has been relieved of the burden of preparing various teaching diplomas in order to devote itself entirely to teacher training, in its broadest theoretical and practical fields.

 

Second, the decree has set the duration of studies for obtaining the teaching qualification diploma at two years instead of one year, which allows the faculty to train more qualified teaching staff.

 

Third, in addition to training secondary school teachers, the decree explicitly entrusts the Faculty of Pedagogy with the task of training educational managers in various sectors, including educational inspectors, educational advisors, secondary school principals, and teacher trainers.

 

Fourth, the new decree, in Article 1, paragraph 2, and Article 2, paragraph 3, gives the Faculty of Pedagogy a leading role in the field of education, entrusting it with the pedagogical training for new educational positions, thus transforming it into a dynamic institution capable of keeping pace with developments in educational life.

 

Fifth, the decree has raised the level of pedagogical research and studies required of the Faculty of Pedagogy, thus distinguishing it from other institutions capable of conducting such research or studies. It also required the Faculty of Pedagogy to participate in educational conferences and symposiums organized inside and outside the country, as well as in working committees in the field of educational planning and curricula.

 

Sixth, the decree allowed the Faculty of Pedagogy to host several model schools, thus offering its students better opportunities for regular educational training, specifying that these schools will adapt their internal regulations to the requirements of educational training, as these regulations will be proposed by the Faculty Council and approved by the University Council, in accordance with Article 11 of the decree.

 

Seven, the decree enabled the Faculty of Pedagogy to be more effective in meeting the needs of the Ministry of National Education and Fine Arts for secondary school teachers and others, as it is easier to estimate the needs expected in two years than in five years, as required by the faculty's former regulations.

 

Eight, the decree classified the diploma of competence issued by the Faculty of Pedagogy as a higher education diploma and required the creation of a State Doctorate in Education within the faculty. These two measures strengthen its scientific status and educational role.

It should be noted that the government took into consideration the interests of the Faculty of Pedagogy's staff members, whether teachers or others, as well as those of the students currently enrolled there.

 

Current students will continue to benefit from the old system, and surplus staff members will be assigned to other university departments.

 

Everyone's rights will therefore be preserved when the new system is implemented.

 

It should also be noted that the government did not in any way view the new regulations as a means of saving money, as it has always been very generous toward the university. It even states that the savings made through the application of the new system in terms of scholarships will be reinvested in certificates of competence and scholarships, according to a system established by the University Council.

 

In short, the new regulations, which have crystallized the identity of the Faculty of Pedagogy, were designed to enable it to fully fulfill its natural role.

 

It must be acknowledged that the Faculty of Pedagogy, in its previous form, rendered outstanding services in the field of education and teaching.

 

However, the government is confident that the proposed formula will be much more effective, especially since it will draft a bill considering students enrolled in the first year of the competency diploma at the Faculty of Pedagogy as trainee employees during the two years of competency, for which they will receive a salary rather than a scholarship, and which will be taken into account in calculating their advancement if they obtain their diploma and retain their job. It goes without saying that such a radical change in the status of students at the Faculty of Pedagogy will encourage them to devote themselves entirely to their studies, freeing them from the worry of earning a living.

 

Decree