Skills Builder Global

This content was written by

Al Imam Jaafar As-Sadeq

Context

Imam Jaafar As-Sadeq Secondary School, nestled in Jwayya, South Lebanon, is a private institution nurturing learners from ages 3 to 18. We are a vibrant community where knowledge, values, and essential life skills converge. We believe in education beyond textbooks, fully integrating the Universal Framework into every aspect of our school—curriculum, coordinators, teachers, students, and parents. Our students don't just learn about skills; they live them through deep knowledge, hands-on training, personalized support, and continuous evaluation, ensuring growth at their own pace. At Imam Jaafar As-Sadeq Secondary School, we prepare students not just for exams, but for life.

Overall impact

At Imam Jaafar As-Sadeq Secondary School, we proudly shape confident students, and our partnership with the Skills Builder Global Accelerator has significantly advanced our mission. From discovery, staff eagerly registered on the Skills Builder Hub, exploring its rich resources to explicitly teach essential skills. Training webinars provided powerful insights into the Eight Essential Skills, best practice principles, and impactful action planning. Armed with this knowledge, we fully embraced the program, aligning strategies with every recommendation and following an evidence-based approach. We implemented the training across the school community—teachers, coordinators, students, and parents—documenting every stage with intention. The result is a stronger, skill-focused learning environment where every learner is equipped for school and life.

Keep it simple

At Imam Jaafar As-Sadeq Secondary School, we embraced Principle 1: Keep it Simple, launching the Skills Builder Programme with clarity, unity, and excitement. We began with a focused workshop for administration and coordinators, building a strong foundation. Coordinators then trained their teams, ensuring every teacher was confident in applying the program. We prominently displayed skill icons and vocabulary in all 60 classes, three playgrounds, walls, and fifteen stairwells, adding vibrant colors and making skills visible everywhere. Our student launch was dynamic: KG to Cycle 2 learners engaged in fun stage activities and class sessions, Cycle 3 students discovered skills during a snow trip and follow-ups with mentors, and Secondary students reflected on skills during prayer time. Parents were informed via a face-to-face meeting and a detailed letter. We also shared our partnership and the 8 essential skills on social media, demonstrating that simple steps create deep impact when everyone understands.

Start early, keep going

At Imam Jaafar As-Sadeq Secondary School, we embraced Principle 2: Start Early, Keep Going, initiating skill-building even before birth. We created a powerful video presentation, led by a pregnant teacher, highlighting how essential skills begin with mindset, shared with all mothers as a call to shape the future early. From KG1 to Secondary, every student develops the Eight Essential Skills, embedded across all subjects by every teacher. This whole-school approach ensures continuity, consistency, and daily impact. Our commitment extends beyond graduation; we guide former students in applying these skills in higher education. We also connected with community elders, drawing on their life experiences to reflect the real-world value of these skills. Through the Global Accelerator Programme, we learned that starting early and persisting shapes not just learners, but lives.

Measure it

At Imam Jaafar As-Sadeq Secondary School, we believe progress stems from knowing where you stand, making measurement central to our Skills Builder Programme work. We meticulously tracked the presence of all eight essential skills within our curriculum, plans, subjects, classes, with all teachers and students. For KG and Cycle 1 learners, teachers conducted individual diagnostic tests using Universal Framework steps, recorded in Excel. Cycle 2 evaluations occurred during class meetings, allowing teachers to collaborate on student skill levels. Cycle 3 and Secondary students completed self-assessment Google Forms, fostering reflection. We measured at every step: post-training, students took regular skill quizzes. Low achievers received extra support and focused evaluations to track improvement. We also monitored teacher progress through class observations and collected parent feedback on skill application beyond the classroom. Measuring what matters truly multiplies our impact.

Focus tightly

At Imam Jaafar As-Sadeq Secondary School, we transformed Principle 4: Focus Tightly into a powerful, structured reality, ensuring each skill is taught with purpose, precision, and passion. Each subject adopted one or more Essential Skills: English (Speaking), Arabic (Listening), Math (Problem Solving), Science & Arts (Creativity), Islamic Education (Aiming High & Staying Positive), Social Studies (Leadership), and Sports (Teamwork). Every teacher became a skill leader, integrating their assigned skill into daily lessons through engaging activities, clear objectives, and tailored strategies, ensuring every student interacted with all eight skills daily. We provided a full cycle: Training → Assessment → Support → Evaluation → Celebration, recognizing progress, respecting differences, and sharing success. Teachers crafted detailed lesson plans, managing time, using interactive methods, and differentiating for all achievement levels. When focus meets intention, real growth begins.

Keep practising

At Imam Jaafar As-Sadeq Secondary School, we ensure students live the skills daily, aligning with Principle 5: Keep Practicing. Our learners get consistent, hands-on practice with the Eight Essential Skills across every subject. Each skill starts in its assigned subject but extends beyond. Students are surrounded by opportunities to apply and strengthen skills from every angle: Speaking in English, Math, and Science; Listening in Arabic, English, and Islamic Studies; Problem Solving in Math, Science, and English; Creativity in Arts, Science, Arabic, and Math; Leadership in Social Studies, English, and Sports; Teamwork on the sports field, in English, and Science labs; and Staying Positive and Aiming High in Islamic Studies, Social Studies, and English. Our students are not just learning skills; they are using, refining, and growing with them in every subject, every day. When practice is everywhere, skills become second nature, and success becomes unstoppable.

Bring it to life

At Imam Jaafar As-Sadeq Secondary School, we believe skills truly grow when lived, embodying Principle 6: Bring It to Life. Our learners apply the Eight Essential Skills far beyond the classroom. They live skills daily: Teamwork cleaning the school garden; Listening during spelling bees and speeches; Staying Positive through friendly competition; Aiming High in English "Spaces"; Problem Solving with grammar and math challenges on school walls; Leadership mentoring younger students; Creativity through innovative handmade and digital projects; Speaking confidently in interviews and public contests; Listening to community elders, valuing real-world wisdom; Expressing themselves in writing competitions; and Representing their school at university audiences. Our students use life skills to shape their world, solve real problems, and shine in real experiences. When you bring skills to life, they bring your future into focus.

What's next

At Imam Jaafar As-Sadeq Secondary School, we are not just continuing the Skills Builder journey; we are elevating it. Each year, we reimagine our program launch with fresh, exciting approaches to keep students inspired and engaged. We design interactive, skill-based activities for every student, in every class, across all levels, understanding that essential skills strengthen with every experience. Our teachers will be trained to think creatively and act boldly, weaving the Eight Essential Skills into every lesson and learning moment. We are also committed to extending these skills beyond our walls, involving families and the wider community in this transformative journey. To maintain momentum, we proudly display the Skills Builder logo on every file, wall, and document—a daily reminder of our commitment and a badge of pride. Skills here are lived, seen, and celebrated daily. Finally, next year, we will implement Universal Framework 2.0. The future is bright, and we are building it one essential skill at a time.

Lebanon