Grand Lycée Franco-Libanais

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Grand Lycée Franco-Libanais
Image:glfl_logo.gif
Established 1909
Type Private school
Principal Jean-Michel Herz
Founder Mission Laïque Française
Faculty 120
Students 3002 (2005-2006)
Grades 1 - 12
Location Rue Beni Assaf, Achrafieh
Beirut, Lebanon
Newspaper Echos Lycée
Languages French, Arabic, English, Spanish, German, Italian
Website http://www.glfl.edu.lb

The Grand Lycée Franco-Libanais (GLFL), is a French lycée in the Ashrafieh district of Beirut, Lebanon founded in 1909 by the Mission Laïque Française, an organization which also helped found other lycées all over the world.[1] It was initially situated in Sodeco in central Beirut and later moved to Rue Beni Assaf near the French Embassy. The school is constantly ranked among the top 5 high schools in Lebanon for its academic excellence and was one of the first non-sectarian establishments in Lebanon and the Middle East. The institution has approximately 10 buildings among which five were conceived by the famous French planner Ecochard, and a newly refurbished athletic stadium on Damascus Road: Le Stade du Chayla.

[edit] Background

Achrafieh buildings by Ecochard in 1961.
Achrafieh buildings by Ecochard in 1961.

As it is almost a century old, the Grand Lycée has made its way through the French mandate, independence and finally war. The conflict which began in 1975 marks the most serious crisis the Grand Lycée has ever faced. The buildings were badly damaged and due to their proximity to the Green-Line, access was never easy.

School departments include a 350 square meter library in which students can find a network of over sixteen PCs intended for educational resources, as well as 10,000 books and literary archives including newspapers, novels, and magazines.

Many cafeterias are spread out through the recess grounds, including the "forn", which means "oven" in Lebanese Arabic, where students can purchase "manakeesh", the traditional Lebanese snack.

A handball match at the lycée, 1978.
A handball match at the lycée, 1978.

Sports are highly regarded: there are two basketball courts, a soccer field, and the Chayla stadium. The Chayla stadium is an authentic track-and-field playground, where students can enjoy activities such as ping-pong, indoor swimming, soccer, basketball, squash and tennis.

The French Baccalaureate is prepared throughout the three sophomore years and students can choose the Lebanese baccalaureate as an option. 2005 results for the French baccalaureate were outstanding: 97% overall success in all three sections (scientific, economic, and literary).

[edit] Notable alumni

  • Samir Kassir, an outspoken and prominent anti-Syrian reporter who was assassinated in Beirut in June 2005, was a student at the Grand Lycée in the 1960s and 1970s.
  • Gibran Tueni, assassinated in December 2005 for the same reasons, spent his early years at the Grand Lycée.
  • Marwan Hamadeh, a famous politician.
  • Fares Bouez, a prominent Lebanese politician.

[edit] External Links

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