Institution Moderne du Liban

The philosophy of a system is the general principle, or actually the general principles on which the functioning of the system is based, and it works in order to get to the results that the system is looking after. The Modern Institution of Lebanon is considered as an educational and pedagogical structure, its principles are marked by a highly modern atmosphere and by a joyful method that Father Michel Khalife started 40 years ago, taken from the German philosopher Friederich Nietzsche from his book:”The joy of knowledge”.

To know is to be born in the reality, and to meet others and one‘s self. It’s the joy of being continuously reborn. Knowing is overcoming any problem. It’s the joy of overcoming. Learning enhances the pleasure of living, and sets up a joyful spirit. The joy overflows when the object to be learnt is more valuable.

To know is to predict. Knowledge is the passion of imagining that it is possible to release ourselves into the present, to contemplate the future and project ourselves into it. It leads to a better adjustment with the reality, or actually a better interaction with it. Knowing is living more and living better, it is surviving. Life is worth living if we consider that it is a way of learning.

There is a danger threatens us the past weighs on our shoulders and sometimes it keeps us from moving ahead; moreover, men tend to over think. Therefore, knowledge takes a continuous load of work, we never know enough. Nothing should be taken for granted. This implies opening up and being available for knowledge. This is how the access to the “truth” requires setting one’s self free from the knowledge previously acquired. Here comes the joy of letting go.

Knowledge is there to serve life, but it may sometimes stop life from evolving and extending its horizons of novelty, its wealth, and its power. This is why it is sometimes a necessity to go back to life and to somehow forget what we already know.

The goals are etymologically the results that the Institution is supposed to obtain, and the achievements proposed for the Institution to reach. They are the ultimate target continually pursued. These goals reflect and show the philosophy of IML. In other words, they update and realize the principals on which the functioning of IML is based.

IML works on creating within the students a desire for knowledge, this desire is established by the need to know more, and it is expanded by the joy of knowing. This leads to grow within the students the admiration of knowledge.

Knowledge is a very noble action that cannot be accomplished without passion. Knowing is too sublime to be brought down to commonplace. While learning, the student acquires the inheritance of the humanity and renews it by enlarging it. Knowledge can be considered as a prayer. In the MIL the class room is alive. The students build their learning, they are happy to discover within themselves and by themselves the laws that take over the reality and enlighten the “human phenomenon” and the human relations.

We are talking here about listening to the reality, to others, and to one’s self. IML teaches the students not to cut out on reality, and not to cut the road that unites them with others. Not only others belonging to the same culture, but also and most importantly other humans no matter what culture they belong to.

IML looks after letting the student be themselves within and through knowledge. Therefore, the teacher stays in the background in order for the student to spread out and enhance his gifts. Knowledge sets the spirit free and brings happiness and joy.

Our goal is to remove the curtain of ignorance, and leading the students to the bright sources of knowledge, and win over ignorance and dullness. Make students capable of succeeding in the official exams and in their university studies in Lebanon and in other countries. We also look after promoting free and independent citizens, who are responsible of their thoughts, their sayings, and their behavior.

The Modern Institution of Lebanon has an educational and pedagogical structure that welcomes candidates coming from different communities, with different religions, nationalities and ethnics backgrounds. The Institution follows two academic programs that are significantly different yet complementary: the programs were developed by the two Ministries of Education of Lebanon and France according to a differentiated educational system.

The Institution adds to the programs mentioned above a number of extracurricular activities, such as art (painting, sculpture, music, choreography and poetry), martial arts (individual attack and defense disciplines), visiting museums, historical and educational sites picking apples and olives…, the environment class, and skiing class.

IML is located in a pine forest on the borders of Beirut, the Lebanese capital. Its building was restored in 1997, and it contains a computer lab, science labs, a library, multipurpose halls, sport fields, locations for residential student and the cafeteria, in addition to the traditional class rooms. A project that is still under study: adding a theater and a gymnasium to the campus. The languages thought are Arabic (mother language), French (second language in the country), English (3rd obligatory language in all levels), Spanish and Italian (optional languages).