Where our Lebanon families are
Smartious Lebanon families concentrate across Beirut (the academic centre, with AUB and LAU teaching in English and one of the most plural private school markets in the region), Tripoli and the north (the second city and its commercial tradition, thin on provision), Saida and the south (some of the deepest diaspora links in the country), Zahle and the Bekaa (the wine and farming valley, an hour over the mountain from anything), and Jounieh and Mount Lebanon (a dense corridor whose households already commute to the capital). One honest legal hedge, one very plural school market, and almost no timezone at all.
The capital and academic centre · the American University of Beirut and the Lebanese American University · one of the most plural private school markets in the region · a professional community with family across four continents
The second city and the northern commercial centre · the port and its trading tradition · the University of Balamand nearby · a substantial population with thin international school provision
The southern coastal city and its port · citrus and agricultural hinterland · a strong commercial tradition and deep diaspora links · limited international school provision
The agricultural heartland — vineyards, wine production and intensive farming · food processing and agro-industry · a valley of dispersed towns · almost no international school provision
The coastal and mountain belt north of the capital · a dense residential and commercial corridor · several long-established schools and universities nearby · families commuting to Beirut daily
How Smartious compares to top Lebanon schools
Lebanon has one of the highest private-school participation rates anywhere in our coverage and an unusually plural market — the French system runs deep through the Grand Lycée Franco-Libanais, Collège Notre-Dame de Jamhour and Collège Protestant, alongside American-system schools including International College and the American Community School, IB schools and the national programme. Those are serious institutions with long histories and we would not pretend to improve on them. The gaps are specific: subject sets no single timetable can sustain, fees, and the regions outside Beirut and Mount Lebanon where provision thins sharply.
| School | Curriculum | Fees (USD/year) | Status / Rating | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
International College and the American Community School Beirut | American, IB and Lebanese | Competitive places | 4.7 | Long-established and strong — the national benchmark |
Grand Lycée Franco-Libanais, Jamhour, Collège Protestant Beirut and Mount Lebanon | French Baccalauréat and Lebanese | Widespread | 4.6 | The French system runs deep here — a different route entirely, and a very good one |
The wider private school sector Nationwide | Lebanese, French, some international | — | 4.2 | Unusually large by international standards — but a national or French record is assessed differently in each foreign country |
The Bekaa, the north and the south Outside the capital belt | Thin to none | — | 0 | A farming valley, a second city and a southern commercial region, none with matching provision |
Private tuition Nationwide | Exam-focused coaching | Widespread | 4 | The default answer to a subject gap — usually one-to-one and unstructured across a year |
Wolsey Hall Oxford / King's InterHigh (online) Online | Cambridge self-paced / UK online | Varies | 4.2 | Self-paced or priced far above Smartious — UK providers are close to Lebanon on the clock, which families should weigh |
Smartious Homeschool (Lebanon via online delivery) Delivered nationwide | Cambridge IGCSE, A-Level, IB DP, AP | Quoted in USD | 4.8 | Every class live through A-Level + a record read in every country your family is in + the Bekaa, north and south reached + fees in one stable figure |
Fee ranges reflect published 2026 tuition for Year 7-13 across the school's tier structure. Specific fees vary by year group and additional school charges (registration, capital fee, books, transport, uniforms). Smartious USD pricing translates to fixed USD via the peg.
Homeschool laws & regulatory framework in the Lebanon
Lebanon is one of the markets where we could not verify the central question, and we would rather open by saying so than write around it. Here is what we can establish, and the two facts that shape our offer here more than the law does.
What we can establish
Education in Lebanon is administered by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. Education is compulsory, and families should confirm the current age boundaries with the ministry rather than take them from any article. Private schools operate under MEHE licensing and supervision, and Smartious does not hold such a licence: we do not operate premises in Lebanon, we claim no Lebanese recognition, and the qualifications we deliver carry Cambridge, Pearson Edexcel, IB or AP validity rather than a domestic one.
What we could not establish
Lebanon's position on parental home education. We could not verify it against a primary instrument and are not going to fill that gap with confident prose. We will not tell you it is permitted and we will not tell you it is prohibited; both would exceed what we can evidence. What we would add is what we say in Jordan, Iraq, Panama and Guatemala: an absence of clear regulation is an absence of protection rather than a permission, because where a matter is unaddressed there is nothing for a family to demonstrate if the question is raised. Put it to MEHE directly.
The Lebanese Baccalaureate, and why parallel tracks are normal here
The national qualification is the Lebanese Baccalaureate and we do not teach toward it. In most markets that statement needs careful explanation; in Lebanon it usually does not. The private sector already runs the French Baccalauréat, the IB and American programmes alongside the national one, and a great many Lebanese families have direct experience of a child following a foreign programme in a Lebanese school. Ours sits in exactly that category — an internationally examined track beside the Lebanese record rather than instead of it.
Why the qualification matters more here than the legal question
This is the honest heart of what we offer, and it has nothing to do with the quality of Lebanese teaching, which is among the strongest in the region. It is that Lebanon has one of the largest and most professionally established diasporas in the world, and a great many families have members in West Africa, the Gulf, France, Brazil, the United States, Canada or Australia. A child's record has to work in whichever of those they end up applying from — and a national or French qualification is assessed through recognition procedures that differ in every one of them. Cambridge A-Levels, the IB Diploma and AP records are read directly across that whole range. For a family whose geography five years out is genuinely open, that is not a marginal advantage.
And a second reason that applies even without leaving
The American University of Beirut and the Lebanese American University teach in English and read Cambridge, IB and AP records directly. A student who arrives at either holding an externally examined English-medium school record has demonstrated years of academic work in the language of instruction rather than a single test score. That benefit applies to families with no intention of leaving the country at all, and it is one of the more useful things we can offer here.
Fees and the clock
Two operational points. We quote and invoice in USD, which is widely used in Lebanon for larger commitments, so a multi-year education decision is one figure to plan around. And Lebanon runs UTC+2 in winter and UTC+3 in summer against our UTC+3 year-round, so we are one hour apart in winter and exactly level in summer — effectively the whole teaching day is available, after-school, mid-morning or evening. Every class is also recorded, so a session that cannot be attended is never a session lost.
Why Lebanon families choose Smartious
Reasons grounded in the realities of Lebanon education — local school capacity constraints, corporate transfer and diplomatic timing, commute and logistics, currency stability, and the curriculum portability that mobile expat and dual-nationality families need.
One record, every country your family is in
West Africa, the Gulf, France, Brazil, North America, Australia and the UK all read Cambridge A-Levels and the IB directly rather than through separate recognition procedures.
English-medium preparation for AUB and LAU
Both teach in English and read international qualifications directly — valuable even for a student staying in Lebanon.
Parallel tracks, which Lebanon already understands
French, IB and American programmes already run alongside the national one here. Ours sits in the same category and needs less explaining than in most markets.
The Bekaa, the north and the south reached
A farming valley, a second city and a southern commercial region, none with matching international provision.
Fees in one figure
Quoted and invoiced in USD, widely used here for larger commitments.
Almost no timezone at all
One hour behind in winter, level in summer — evenings included.
What you can verify about Smartious
We publish only facts we can substantiate — operational history, curriculum coverage, teacher base, and infrastructure. No invented testimonials or pass-rate claims.
Founder-led education company
Founded 2019 by Alfred Ouko (BEd Mathematics & Physics). Smartious operates a full teaching team of 11 with two international-standard operational centres established 2022 and 2023. Not a marketplace, not a freelance network.
Two operational centres
Live teaching is delivered to Lebanon families from two international-standard operational centres, established 2022 and 2023. Teachers work from professional academic facilities with accountability and infrastructure beyond marketplace or freelance models.
Cambridge-trained PGCE specialists
Teachers are PGCE-qualified subject specialists with Cambridge International training. Subject specialism means a Chemistry teacher teaches only Chemistry — not generalist primary-style teaching.
120+ countries served
Active students in Lebanon and 13 other markets across Africa, the Gulf, Europe and Asia. Verifiable through cross-country cohort interaction in live classes.
Ontario Diploma (OSSD) partnership
Smartious students can earn the Ontario Secondary School Diploma through our partnership with Canadian Cross International School (Ontario-inspected private school). The OSSD is recognised by Canadian universities (OUAC), US universities (Common Application), UK universities (UCAS) and globally — particularly valuable for Canadian U15 applications.
5 international curricula
Cambridge IGCSE & A-Level (primary offering), Pearson Edexcel International GCSE & A-Level, IB Diploma Programme, American Curriculum with AP, Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) via Canadian Cross International School partnership. Multiple credential pathways per family.
Live class transparency
Every class is live with recorded sessions for review. Parents can audit class quality directly. This is materially different from pre-recorded video courses with light tutor support.
4.9 from 123+ verified Google reviews
“I am truly impressed by the level of professionalism at Smartious Homeschool and Tuition. The tutors are not only knowledgeable but also very patient and supportive. They create a comfortable learning environment where children feel free to ask questions. My child now enjoys studying and looks forward to every session.”
“What stands out most about Smartious Homeschool and Tuition is their dedication to each learner. They don't rush through topics but ensure the child fully understands before moving forward. The progress my child has made in a short time is impressive. I would definitely recommend them to any parent.”
“Smartious Homeschooling delivers genuinely effective one-on-one instruction. The teachers are patient, consistent, and skilled at identifying and addressing each learner's specific academic gaps. Since enrolling, our child has become more confident, enjoys lessons, and is now performing above grade level. For families in Nairobi seeking a dependable, academically rigorous homeschooling programme with personalised support, Smartious is a standout choice.”
Reviews above are from our verified Google Business Profile. For Lebanon-specific parent references during your decision-making, request these during your free assessment — we can introduce you to current Lebanon families happy to share their experience directly.
Accreditation, Recognition & University Pathways
Smartious students earn qualifications administered by independent international examination boards. Recognition flows from the board itself — not from the school that delivered the curriculum. Below is the accreditation, examination and verification framework that connects Lebanese Smartious students to universities worldwide.
Cambridge International
Cambridge Assessment International Education · University of Cambridge
Smartious's primary offer for Lebanon families. Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge A-Level delivered as live small-group classes at effectively any hour of our teaching day — Lebanon is one hour behind us in winter and level in summer — run alongside a Lebanese school enrolment that continues its own track unchanged. Cambridge French and Arabic available beside the English-medium core, which matters in a market this plural. Fees quoted in USD.
Pearson Edexcel International
Pearson · UK Edexcel curriculum adapted for international delivery
International GCSE and International A-Level qualifications, administered by Pearson. Three examination series annually (January, May/June, October/November) providing additional flexibility versus the Cambridge twice-yearly schedule.
International Baccalaureate Organisation
IB Diploma Programme · IBO Geneva
IB Diploma administered by the International Baccalaureate Organisation in Geneva. Recognised by leading universities globally with particularly strong weighting at US Ivy League, US selective liberal arts colleges, Canadian U15 and top European universities.
College Board
American Curriculum with Advanced Placement (AP)
AP courses and examinations administered by the College Board, the US non-profit responsible for the SAT and AP programmes. AP scores are widely recognised by US universities for university credit, plus by Canadian, UK, Australian and many universities worldwide.
Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
Canadian Cross International School · Ontario Ministry of Education
OSSD earned through Smartious's partnership with Canadian Cross International School, an Ontario-inspected private school. Smartious students enrol concurrently with CCIS to complete the OSSD curriculum and credit requirements alongside Cambridge or other pathways. OSSD is one of the most recognised secondary credentials worldwide — particularly strong for Canadian U15 admissions via OUAC, US universities via Common Application, and UK universities via UCAS.
Examination centre arrangements in Lebanon
International examinations require attendance at authorised examination centres on specific dates. In Lebanon, established examination centres serve Cambridge International, Pearson Edexcel and other major international qualifications.
Smartious manages examination registration logistics including centre selection, registration paperwork and deadline compliance. Cambridge International and Pearson Edexcel examinations for Lebanon-based students sit as external candidates at authorised provision, with capacity confirmed per family per session. Lebanon is an easier market than most for this: the private school sector is very large and has run international programmes for generations, so provision and familiarity are both well established, and the country is compact enough that examination travel is a handful of short journeys a year. Beirut is checked first, with Mount Lebanon for the coastal belt and travel planned ahead from Tripoli, Saida and the Bekaa. Note what does not change: our arrangement runs alongside a Lebanese school, which continues its own track unchanged. Smartious is not a MEHE-licensed school, issues no Lebanese qualification and does not teach toward the Lebanese Baccalaureate.
University recognition worldwide
Cambridge International, Pearson Edexcel, IB Diploma and American AP qualifications are recognised across the major university systems globally.
the American University of Beirut and the Lebanese American University — both English-medium and among the best known institutions in the Arab world — alongside Université Saint-Joseph, the Lebanese University, the University of Balamand, Notre Dame University and Haigazian.
Cambridge · Oxford · Imperial College London · UCL · LSE · King's College London · Edinburgh · Manchester · Bristol · Birmingham · Warwick · Durham · the Russell Group · the broader UK system via UCAS
Harvard · Yale · Princeton · Columbia · Penn · Brown · Dartmouth · Cornell · Amherst · Williams · Pomona · UC Berkeley · UCLA · Michigan · Virginia · top liberal arts and public research universities via the Common Application
Toronto · McGill · UBC · McMaster · Waterloo · Western · Queen's · the U15 research universities · OUAC for Ontario applications
Melbourne · Sydney · ANU · Monash · Queensland · UWA · Adelaide · UNSW · the Group of Eight via UAC
NYU Abu Dhabi · Sorbonne Abu Dhabi · Khalifa · AUS · AUD · UAE branch campuses · KFUPM · KAUST · KSU · KAU · Saudi national universities · Education City Doha (Georgetown · Northwestern · CMU · Cornell · Texas A&M · HEC Paris · UCL)
Berlin Humboldt · Munich LMU · Heidelberg · RWTH Aachen · TU Munich · French Grandes Écoles · Amsterdam · Leiden · Utrecht · Bologna · Sapienza · ETH Zurich · EPFL
How universities verify qualifications
Universities verify Cambridge International, Pearson Edexcel, IB Diploma and American AP qualifications directly with the issuing examination boards through standard verification services — Cambridge International Verification of Awards, Pearson's Verification of Results, the IB Organisation's verification service, and the College Board AP Score Reporting service. The qualification's credibility comes from the examination board itself, which is why these qualifications are equally valid whether earned at a physical school or through Smartious.
Curriculum approaches we offer Lebanese families
British Curriculum
Cambridge IGCSE & A-Level · Pearson Edexcel
Cambridge IGCSE: Years 10-11, eight to ten subjects. Cambridge A-Level: Years 12-13, three or four subjects in depth. Pearson Edexcel as British alternative with three examination series annually.
Lebanon families targeting the Cambridge pathway. Best fit for: (1) families with relatives across several countries who need one record that reads in all of them, (2) students heading for AUB, LAU or English-medium universities abroad, (3) Bekaa, Tripoli and Saida families where provision is thin or absent, (4) Mount Lebanon households already commuting to the capital, (5) students needing a subject their school cannot staff.
Live online classes at effectively any hour of our teaching day, small groups 4-6 students, every session recorded, alongside a Lebanese school enrolment.
IB Diploma Programme
International Baccalaureate Organisation
Grades 11-12. Six subjects (three Higher Level, three Standard Level), plus Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay (4,000-word independent research paper), and Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS).
Lebanon families in the country's IB sector wanting live subject teaching, Theory of Knowledge, and Extended Essay supervision alongside their school.
Live online IB DP classes across all six subject groups plus Theory of Knowledge and Extended Essay supervision.
American Curriculum
College Board · AP · SAT & ACT
US high school curriculum through Grade 12. Advanced Placement courses Grades 9-12 with college-level subject specialisation. SAT or ACT preparation integrated alongside curriculum delivery.
Lebanon families targeting US universities via Common Application, or preparing for the American-system institutions in Beirut.
American Curriculum with AP courses Grades 9-12, SAT/ACT preparation, Common App essay coaching.
Ontario Secondary School Diploma
OSSD · via Canadian Cross International School partnership
Grades 9-12 Ontario curriculum delivered through Smartious's partnership with Canadian Cross International School (Ontario-inspected private secondary school). Students complete the 30 credits required for OSSD including the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) and 40 community involvement hours.
Lebanese families targeting Canadian U15 universities (Toronto, McGill, UBC, McMaster, Waterloo, Western, Queen's) via OUAC, US universities via the Common Application, UK universities via UCAS, and Australian universities. The OSSD is particularly strong for direct Canadian university applications because students apply as Ontario secondary graduates rather than international students.
Live online instruction by qualified subject teachers, concurrent enrolment with Canadian Cross International School for official OSSD transcripting, Ontario course codes (ENG4U, MHF4U, SCH4U etc.) recorded against each student. CCIS issues the official Ontario diploma and transcript on successful completion of the OSSD requirements.
Primary, Secondary & Sixth Form
Primary Programmes
Ages 5-11 · Years 1-6 · Grades 1-5 · IB PYP
Cambridge Primary, Common Core or IB Primary Years Programme. Live classes are age-appropriate in length (40-50 minutes), scheduled in your local EET / EEST time zone to suit Primary-age attention spans. Small group sizes support individual attention. Weekly parent dashboards and monthly written reports cover academic and developmental progress.
Secondary Programmes
Years 7-11 · Grades 6-11
Lower Secondary (Years 7-9) builds the foundations for IGCSE entry. IGCSE Years (10-11) cover eight to ten subjects with examination registration at Authorised Lebanese Cambridge provision. One-on-one subject choice consultation at IGCSE entry aligns subjects with university targets. Mid-year arrivals accepted with academic catch-up support.
Sixth Form & University Preparation
Years 12-13 · Grades 11-12
Lebanese universities admit on the Lebanese Baccalaureate or on equivalent foreign qualifications through recognition procedures confirmed per institution — and notably, the English-medium American-system universities here read Cambridge A-Levels, the IB Diploma and AP records directly, which makes an internationally examined record valuable even for a student who never leaves the country. Outward, Lebanese students apply across an unusually wide range of destinations reflecting where their families already are: France, the Gulf, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Brazil, West Africa and Australia. UCAS reads A-Levels natively, American and Canadian universities read A-Levels and the IB directly, French institutions assess them through established equivalence routes, and A-Levels are accepted in 160+ countries. Smartious provides personalised university guidance across UK (UCAS), US, French, Canadian, Gulf and Lebanese destinations.
Eight reasons Lebanese families choose Smartious
Each reason is grounded in something verifiable — not in marketing claims.
Experienced international educators
Subject-specific degree-qualified teaching staff with cumulative experience across Cambridge International, Pearson Edexcel, IB Diploma and American Curriculum. Many hold advanced teaching credentials including PGCE, Cambridge PDT certification, or national teaching registration in their home jurisdiction.
Personalised learning plans
Every student begins with an initial assessment. The learning plan that follows is tailored to academic level, subject preferences, target universities and family situation — not a one-size-fits-all schedule.
Academic assessments
Initial diagnostic assessment. Weekly informal assessment within classes. Monthly formal assessments. Mock examinations under timed conditions during IGCSE and A-Level years. Results inform teaching adjustments.
Small class sizes
Online tier classes have four to six students. Online Plus has smaller groups. Premium is one-on-one. Class size affects individual attention, question response time, and student speaking time during class.
Progress monitoring
Weekly parent dashboards showing attendance and assessment results. Monthly written subject reports from each teacher. Termly comprehensive reports covering academic progress, study habits and university preparation.
Parent communication
Direct communication with subject teachers and form tutors via the parent portal. Email for admissions and pastoral matters, with response within one business day. Scheduled parent-teacher meetings each term.
Global student community
Live classes bring together students from across 14 countries. Wednesday afternoon enrichment programmes — coding, robotics, debate, Model UN, chess, journalism, leadership — develop collaborative learning across geographies.
University admissions guidance
Progressive guidance from Year 10 onwards. UCAS, Common Application, OUAC, UAC and direct university application support. Personal statement coaching, interview preparation and offer-management guidance.
Alfred Ouko
Founder, Smartious Homeschool & eSchool
Alfred Ouko is the founder of Smartious Homeschool & eSchool, established in 2019 while studying at the University of Nairobi. He has grown the organisation from a tuition support service into an international online school serving families across 14 countries, including Alfred Ouko founded Smartious in Nairobi in 2019 to make international qualifications accessible to families at online-delivery fees rather than campus ones. Lebanon has one of the strongest educational traditions in the region and one of the most internationally connected populations anywhere — which makes a qualification that needs no translating worth more here than in most markets we serve..
Bachelor of Education (Science) — Mathematics and Physics, University of Nairobi (2022)
- Over six years supporting students through international curriculum pathways — Cambridge International (IGCSE and A-Level), Pearson Edexcel International, IB Diploma Programme, American Curriculum with AP, and homeschooling pathways.
- Direct teaching experience in secondary-level Mathematics and Physics across multiple international curriculum boards.
- Leadership of curriculum development, teacher recruitment and academic standards across Smartious's two international-standard operational centres and online programmes serving Lebanon families.
- Specialism in supporting students through university admissions to Alfred holds a BEd in Mathematics and Physics — Smartious's Cambridge A-Level and IB Diploma STEM subjects are led personally when needed, suiting the Bekaa's agricultural science households and every medicine-bound student in Beirut, Tripoli and Saida. Head of Academics supervises curriculum delivery and university placement strategy per family..
“International curriculum mastery is achievable for students from any background when subject specialists, small class sizes, and individual academic plans are combined with the discipline and structure good schools provide.”
Common questions from Lebanon families
Is homeschooling legal in Lebanon?+
We could not verify a position from a primary instrument and will not guess. Education is compulsory and administered by MEHE, and private schools operate under ministry licensing. An absence of clear regulation is not a permission — put the question to MEHE directly. Structured study alongside a school enrolment raises none of it.
Do you teach the Lebanese Baccalaureate?+
No. We are not a MEHE-licensed school and issue no Lebanese qualification. We teach Cambridge, Edexcel, IB and AP examinations alongside the Lebanese record — an arrangement Lebanese families already understand, since French, IB and American programmes run in parallel here.
Our family has relatives in several countries — which qualification travels?+
Cambridge A-Levels and the IB Diploma, with AP for US-focused applications. All are read directly in France, the Gulf, North and South America, Australia, West Africa and the UK, whereas a national or French record is assessed through different procedures in each.
Our child will study at AUB or LAU — is an international record still worth it?+
Often yes. Both teach in English and read Cambridge, IB and AP records directly, so a student arrives having demonstrated sustained academic work in the language of instruction rather than only a test score.
How are fees handled?+
Quoted and invoiced in USD, which is widely used here for larger commitments — USD 2,160-6,480 a year for live small-group teaching, one figure to plan a multi-year commitment around.
How does the timezone work?+
One hour behind us in winter and exactly level in summer, so effectively our whole teaching day is available — after-school, mid-morning or evening.
Where do Lebanese students sit Cambridge examinations?+
At authorised provision confirmed per family per session — Beirut first, with Mount Lebanon for the coastal belt and travel planned ahead from Tripoli, Saida and the Bekaa. The country is compact enough that this is a handful of short journeys a year.
Which parts of Lebanon does Smartious cover?+
Beirut, Tripoli and the north, Saida and the south, Zahle and the Bekaa, and Jounieh and Mount Lebanon have dedicated pages. Live online delivery works identically anywhere in the country.
Lebanese students join a 14+ country global cohort
Live classes bring together students from across Africa, the Gulf, Europe and Asia. A Lebanon student in our Year 11 IGCSE Mathematics class will be alongside peers in Cairo, Dubai, Bangkok, Seoul, Casablanca and Kigali. The Wednesday enrichment programmes (debate, Model UN, robotics, journalism) operate as one global classroom rather than thirteen separate national ones.