A Mother’s Perspective on Tech Education in Lebanon’s Public Schools
“They Deserve What We Didn’t Get”
Mounaya, Malak’s mom
“I know Malak has the capacity to learn and understand new topics,” said Mounaya. “But financially, I can’t give her the education I wish I could.”
A teacher herself, Mounaya lives with her husband, daughter Malak, and son in the suburbs of Beirut, an area deeply impacted by the recent war and where access to quality education is increasingly out of reach.
She was really grateful when she learnt that Malak would be studying coding and robotics through CodeBrave’s programme with UNICEF; she almost couldn’t believe it.
“I could never imagine that public schools would teach things like coding,” she said. “This is a chance students like Malak would’ve never received—an opportunity we never had.”
A Class That Helps Students Grow
This year, Malak became one of over 3,000 students across 25 public schools in Lebanon to be introduced to tech education for the first time. Through the programme, students in these schools are now building games, programming robots, and exploring artificial intelligence, often in newly equipped labs.
“I’m proud of myself for being able to do something like this,” said Malak. “Coding and robotics will help me in the future. I think all kids my age should try it; it’s fun and really nice.”
After every class, Malak would come home eager to share what she had learnt. For her mother, the change was easy to spot.
“She’s grown,” said Mounaya. “I see her progress every day. And I feel proud.”
Hope For Equal Access To Quality Education
For Mounaya, this isn’t just about one subject. It’s about dignity. It’s about opportunity. It’s about a future she wasn’t allowed. All this was finally being offered to her daughter and to other girls her age.
“Children in Lebanon are so often denied their right to a good education,” she said. “And it’s not fair. They deserve better. This class was a first step.”
And Malak won’t be the last.
To ensure sustainability, the programme is designed so that public school teachers can eventually lead it themselves. This approach will allow hands-on STEM education to continue in schools year after year without relying on external facilitators. By 2028, at least 5,250 students are expected to graduate from the course—without needing external instructors.
When Parents Understand The Power of Tech Education
Bringing tech education into public schools is essential. But engaging parents matters just as much. Many families are not familiar with digital tools or are not sure why these skills are important. That’s where awareness becomes critical.
“The more you learn, the more you grow,” said Mounaya. “Public school students have the right to opportunities like this. Because who knows? They might be amazing at it.”
This is only the beginning!
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NB: This blog, like all our blogs, has been published with the final review and consent of the interviewees in question.