This summer was an especially significant one for the Leila C. Saad SABIS^® School El-Metn. The school, which opened in 2012, celebrated the graduation of its first cohort of students. The Leila C. Saad SABIS^® School El-Metn is one of the first tuition-free, private schools for low-income families in Lebanon. With an initial enrollment of just 20 students, SABIS^® School-El Metn currently educates 339 students in KG2 through Grade 12, many of whom have had no access to formal schooling. The school delivers a high-quality education that emphasizes a balance of academics and opportunities for self-exploration and development.  

In a special ceremony held at the school on June 27, 2019, in the presence of parents and key members of staff, the first cohort of SABIS^® El-Metn students graduated after having passed the official Lebanese Baccalaureate exams with impressive results. In fact, a close analysis of the results shows that SABIS^® El-Metn students outperformed national averages on a number of subjects in the General Science Lebanese Baccalaureate (see table below). 

“I am so proud of our first graduating class,” said Acting School Director, Ms. Hiba Moujaes. “These students have risen above difficult challenges and life circumstances and are now well on the path to success. They are a true testament of SABIS^®’ ability to provide a top-quality education to all students, give parents a viable choice, and their children a real hope for the future.”    

With their diplomas in hand, the graduates are now set for the next chapter in their lives: College! One graduate was accepted at the Lebanese University Faculty of Engineering, two graduates received acceptances to study Pure Math at the Lebanese University, and the fourth student is heading to the U.S. 
Vahe Hawi, one of the graduates who earned honors on the official exam said: “I always wanted to become a mechanical engineer, so I took the entrance exam at the Lebanese University Faculty of Engineering. Although it was one of the toughest exams ever, I was prepared and ready for it. Now, I am on my way to achieving my goal, thanks to SABIS^®.” 

The Leila C. Saad SABIS^® School El-Metn is not the only school that celebrated the graduation of their first cohort of students. In  the early summer, SABIS^® Public-Private Partnership schools is Kurdistan also held their first commencement ceremony in the presence of a number of VIPs including Mr. Safeen Dezayee, Representative of Kurdistan Region President, His Excellency Nechirvan Barzani; Erbil Governor, Mr. Nawzad Hadi; and SABIS^® President, Mr. Carl Bistany. To read the full article, click here.  

The SABIS^® community would also like to congratulate these very special cohorts along with all of the 2019 graduates from SABIS^® Network schools and wish them the best of luck!