Collège Saint Joseph – Antoura

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The Collège Saint Joseph in Antoura, Lebanon, is the oldest French school in the Middle East. It was established in 1834 by the Lazarist priests, led by Fr. Andrew Francis. The school's current headmaster is Father Abdo Eid and its student body comprises 5500 students. Located in the valley of Antoura, the campus consists of more than eight buildings with several courts and gardens. It is accredited by the French Ministry of Education and has the status of "école homologuée". The high school or "lycée" offers both the Lebanese and French baccalaureate programs with the possibility of a double baccalaureate program.^{[citation needed]}

It is classified as a French international school by the AEFE.^[1]

The school also accommodates the oldest scouts group in Lebanon. Previously members of the Scouts et Guides de France, the scouts and guides of Saint Joseph Antoura later joined the Scouts du Liban association when it was formed.^{[citation needed]} Antoura is known for the visit of French writers Alphonse de Lamartine and Gerard de Nerval, who wrote about the school and the town.^{[citation needed]}

Since 1651, local Cheikh Abou Nawfal Khazen had been requesting Jesuit fathers to establish a mission on his lands in Antoura. It wasn't until 1773, that their efforts were realized with the arrival of monks from The Lazarist order. In 1834, the apostolic delegate, Monseigneur Auvergne encouraged the transformation of the mission into a teaching college. Antoura's beginnings were quite modest, in October 1834 seven students were enrolled, thus forming the first secondary Francophone school in the Middle East. Over the course of the 19th century, the college developed. In 1874, the central building was built. The Left wing opened in 1884 and the chapel was inaugurated in 1895. The symbol of the school, the tower was built in 1904.^{[citation needed]}

During World War I and the Armenian genocide, the Lazarists were expelled by the Ottomans and the college was transformed into an orphanage where, under the direction of Djemal Pasha and Halide Edib Adıvar, about 1,000 Armenian and 200 Kurdish children were forcefully Turkified.^[2][3] The story of the Turkification of the children during the Armenian genocide is portrayed in Goodbye, Antoura, released in English in 2015 and written by one of the children who were interned at the orphanage.^{[citation needed]}

College attendance saw a resurgence in 1919, counting 350 Students. In 1936, the French Academy awarded the Grand Prix of French Language to the college. In 1977, despite the Lebanese Civil War, the Kindergarten building was built. The Centre Lamartine, named after the French poet who visited the college, is a documentation center which is used by students and teachers to further their research. In 1982, the boarding school was opened. The college then counted 2,500 students. In 1996, thet chapel was restored. The Saint Joseph Sports center was opened in 2006.^{[citation needed]}

The College Offers 15 years of schooling, starting with three years of pre-school ("Maternelle"), and 12 years of schooling (Grade 1 to 12). The school follows the standard Lebanese program. Students in grade 9 are required to pass the Brevet examination before joining the Secondary cycle ("high school"). Students graduate after finishing the grade 12 program and passing the Baccalaureate. They are required to select one of four concentrations: Sciences (Life or General), Sociology-Economics or Humanities. The school also offers students the possibility of studying both the French and Lebanese Baccalaureates, in a double intensive program.^{[citation needed]} The average size of the graduating class in Antoura varies typically between 200 and 250 students.^{[citation needed]}

The town of Antoura sits on a hill overlooking the Mediterranean Sea at an altitude ranging between 250 and 300m above sea level. The Town is bordered by Zouk Mikael and Zouk Mosbeh to the west, Hrash, Jeita and Ain El Rihani to the east.^[4]

Antoura derives from Syriac `aïn meaning "fountain" or "spring" and țoura meaning "mountain".^[4]

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• Education in the Ottoman Empire

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