Grand Lycée Franco-Libanais
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Mission Laïque Française | |
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| Established | 1909 |
| Type | Private school |
| Affiliations | Mission Laïque Française |
| Principal | Jean-Michel Herz |
| Founder | Mission Laïque Française |
| Faculty | 180 |
| Students | 3218 (2009–2010) |
| Grades | 1 - 15 |
| Location | Rue Beni Assaf, Achrafieh, Beirut, Lebanon |
| Athletics | Swimming, ultimate, football, basketball, tennis, handball, ping-pong, gymnastics, acrogym, squash, volleyball, athletics |
| Newspaper | 'Al Wassel' |
| Languages | French, Latin, Arabic, English, Spanish, German, Italian |
| Website | http://www.glfl.edu.lb |
The Grand Lycée Franco-Libanais (GLFL), is a French lycée in the Achrafieh district of Beirut, Lebanon founded in 1909 by the Mission Laïque Française, an organization which also helped found other lycées worldwide.[1] It is also an active member of the AEFE. [2] It was initially situated in the Sodeco neighborhood near the Central Beirut District and later moved to Rue Beni Assaf near the French Embassy in the Mathaf neighborhood.
The institution has ten buildings (five were conceived by the famous French planner Ecochard) and a new athletic stadium on Damascus Road: Le Stade du Chayla.
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[edit] Background
Just over a century old, the Grand Lycée has made its way through the French mandate, independence and war. The conflict which began in 1975 marks the most serious crisis the Grand Lycée had ever faced. The buildings were badly damaged and due to their proximity to the Green Line, access was never easy. From 1996 to 2003, the Lycée undertook comprehensive renovations where all the "Ecochard" buildings were rehabilitated and new structures were constructed. The new Stade du Chayla was inaugurated on 25 March 2005.
[edit] Today
The school is fully operational and offers classes to more than 3200 students. It remains the flagship institution of the Mission Laïque Française organization and leads the organization's eight established schools in Lebanon.
School departments include a 350 square meter library in which students can find a network of PCs intended for educational resources, as well as 27,000 books and literary archives including newspapers, novels, and magazines. A secondary library known as the BCD is also available to younger students. Six computer labs are available for students.
There are two basketball courts, a soccer field, and a gymnasium. Across the street, the brand new Stade du Chayla comprises a track-and-field playground, along with tennis, badminton, basketball and mini-soccer courts. The building includes table tennis and squash halls as well as an indoor swimming pool.
A cafeteria caters for the needs of students. There are three snack facilities in the recess grounds, including the "furn" - "oven" in Lebanese Arabic - where students can purchase Manaeesh, a traditional Lebanese snack.
The French Baccalaureate is prepared throughout the three sophomore years and students can choose the Lebanese baccalaureate as an option.
[edit] Notable alumni
- Samir Kassir, anti-Syrian reporter and member of the March 14 Coalition who was assassinated in Beirut in June 2005, was a student at the Grand Lycée in the 1960s and 1970s.
- Gibran Tueni, MP and editor in chief of An-Nahar, member of the March 14 Coalition, assassinated in December 2005. He spent his early years at the Grand Lycée.
- Marwan Hamadeh, MP and Minister of Telecommunications, Economy, Trade and Health in successive governments. Member of the March 14 Coalition
- Fares Soueid, general secretary of the March 14 Coalition, ex-MP.
- Fares Bouez, ex-MP and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Environment in successive governments.
[edit] External links
- Grand Lycée Website in French
- Official alumni community
- The school's 1956 newsletter
[edit] References
- ^ "Le site de la Mission laique francaise et de l'OSUI - les etablissements - ecoles et lycees". Mission Laique Francaise. http://www.mission-laique.asso.fr/reseaux/continents.html. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
- ^ "Agence pour l'Enseignement Français à l'Etranger". Mission Laique Francaise. http://www.aefe.diplomatie.fr/. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
