On the occasion of the International Day of Education 2026, celebrated globally under the theme “The Power of Youth in Co-Creating Education”, UNESCO Regional Office in Beirut organized an educational dialogue forum addressing “Youth Re-Imagining Education” under the patronage and presence of Her Excellency the First Lady of the Republic of Lebanon, Mrs. Nehmat Aoun. The event took place at the American University of Beirut (AUB) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the Asfari Institute for Civil Society & Citizenship at AUB, and the Lebanese National Commission for UNESCO (NATCOM).

The forum brought together more than 150 young people from across Lebanon, representing universities, public and private schools, and TVET institutions, alongside policymakers, ministers, educators, and key actors in education in Lebanon. The celebration positioned youth as leaders and co-creators of dialogue, showcasing UNESCO’s commitment to meaningful youth engagement in shaping education systems.

UNESCO

The celebration featured an Interactive Dialogue Forum and a Live Art Exhibition, organized as two parallel youth-led activities. One group led thematic discussions on education and citizenship through a flipped dialogue with decision-makers. The other group co-created a live art exhibition for showcasing how they reimagine education.

Throughout the forum, youth were at the center of the discussions, posing questions, sharing insights, and providing concrete recommendations to Her Excellency the First Lady, the Minister of Social Affairs, the Minister of State for Technology and Artificial Intelligence and Minister of the Displaced, President of the Center for Educational Research and development and the President of the Lebanese National Commission for UNESCO. Topics included active citizenship, digital learning and media and information literacy (MIL), inclusion and citizenship, and education for sustainable development and employability highlighting how youth could transform education systems to support them in responding to the challenges of an increasingly digital world while building back better a country that counts on them as active citizens.

UNESCO

The forum also highlighted national efforts to strengthen citizenship and digital learning, including the School of Citizenship initiative launched under the leadership of the First Lady and ongoing work on digital learning strategies and curriculum development. These efforts underscore the importance of youth-led engagement and participation as a cornerstone of inclusive, future-ready education in Lebanon.

By placing youth at the forefront of dialogue and decision-making, the International Day of Education 2026 celebration in Lebanon created a vibrant space for intergenerational interaction, where young voices directly shaped the discussions and recommendations expected to inform national conversations on education, citizenship, and learning during times of transformation.

In line with the vision of UNESCO Director-General Mr. Khaled El-Enany to place young people at the heart of education systems, UNESCO reaffirms its commitment to action and to delivering #ForThePeople, by continuing to support youth and national partners to ensure that education systems equip young people with the knowledge, skills, values and competencies needed to take the stage in society and contribute meaningfully to sustainable development.