“Distinguishing Between the Arabic Reading and the Civic Education:
A Gender-based Approach that Requires the Purification
Of the Books and Texts”

“Distinguishing between the Arabic Reading Books and the National and Civic Education Books of the Intermediate Classes in Lebanon: A Gender-based Approach” was the title of the field study for the follow-up of women related issues, launched by the National Committee, during a press conference held in the Press Syndicate, under the patronage of the Minister of State for Administrative Reform, HEM Jean Oghassabian, represented by the coordinator of Afkar program, Ms.Youmna Chakr Ghorayeb, and the Minister of Education and Higher Education, HEM Khaled Kabbani, represented by the President of the Educational Center for Research and Development, Dr. Layla Maliha Fayyad, in the presence of the President of the Family Organization Association, Mr. Toufik Assayran, the officer at the Human Rights Organization of the High Commissioner Office, Mr. Nidal Jerdi, and heads of many organizations and associations. 

                                

The press conference started with a welcome speech by the representative of the Head of the Press Syndicate, Mr. Fouad Al-Harake, after which the President of the National Committee, Dr. Aman Chaarani, explained the objectives of the study that can be met by gaining full knowledge of the content of some books and putting an end to the discrimination against women.

The outcome of the study shows that the stereotyped images of men and women are strikingly present in the intermediate classes’ books, and that the roles attributed to women in the majority of those books are limited to family responsibilities.

Dr. Fahmiyya Charaffeddine made recommendations that help getting to books void of discrimination. She considered that the woman’s image in the intermediate classes’ books is limited to the marginal roles and duties that are not raised to the national responsibility and leadership level, where the political participation rate is estimated at 54.4%, and leadership is estimated at 32.90% for men, and 68.9% for women. On the family and emotional level, men’s participation rate is set to 0% while the women’s participation rate is estimated at 100%.

Dr. Charaffeddine noted that the study calls for the classification of the gender and practical needs of the students, the modernization of the curricula through the enrichment of the cultural and educational, sexual educational and procreation health courses, and the training of the educators in order to integrate health awareness through gender awareness sessions. She also recommended the adoption of programs intended for the parents and the teenagers with a view of helping them build a family and enhance the dialogue between them.

As for Ms. Youmna Chakr Ghorayeb, she advocated the abolition of discrimination against women in the educational field.

And the last speaker of the conference, Ms. Fayyad expressed her optimism regarding the outcome of the study despite the difficulty of the prevailing circumstances. She also stressed the importance to proceeding with the educational workshop, for it has become an urgent need.