Educational Systems in Lebanon during the Final Years of the French Occupation (1939–1946)

Abstract

This study examines the educational systems in Lebanon during the final years of the French occupation (1939–1946), a critical period in the history of Lebanese education. The research focuses on the educational policies implemented by the French Mandate authorities, aiming to consolidate French cultural and political influence through curricula and the teaching of the French language. Conversely, Lebanese national elites sought to employ education as a tool to strengthen national identity and Arab affiliation, resisting colonial domination.

The study explores the structure of the educational system, the role of public and private schools, and the impact of political and economic circumstances, including World War II, on educational quality and accessibility. It highlights the intellectual and political struggle between the French colonial project and the national initiative to develop an educated generation capable of leading the country toward independence. The research demonstrates that education during this period was not merely an academic process, but a contested arena of cultural and political forces, laying the groundwork for post-independence educational reforms.