Activists voice concerns as the new Syrian government implements curricular changes that favor Islamic teachings and erase references to the Assad regime, raising fears of exclusion from the educational discourse.
Controversy Erupts Over New Curriculum in Syria’s Transitional Government Schools
Controversy Erupts Over New Curriculum in Syria’s Transitional Government Schools
Upcoming school year begins amid significant educational reforms by Islamist-led authorities, worrying many.
The new academic year is about to commence in Syria, and changes to the school curriculum implemented by the Islamist-led transitional government have sparked widespread controversy and protest calls. Critics assert that the alterations were made without comprehensive societal input, raising alarms about the direction of education in the country.
The education ministry's official social media page recently outlined the revised curriculum, which aims for a more Islamic tone while excluding any content related to the Assad regime. For example, the slogan “Defending the nation” has been replaced with “Defending Allah.” Education Minister Nazir al-Qadri has attributed these modifications to ongoing efforts but insists that no drastic changes will occur until specialized committees assess the curriculum comprehensively.
Among the proposed alterations, scientific theories such as Evolution and the Big Bang are set to be removed from the syllabus. Additionally, references to pre-Islamic deities and their cultural significance, including the important historical figure of Queen Zenobia, will not be included in the new curriculum. Also, any content glorifying the Assad family from previous Arabic literature has been omitted, which al-Qadri claims was necessary to eliminate glorification of the former regime.
While some citizens have welcomed these changes, many civil society activists—many of whom have recently returned to Syria—are deeply concerned about the implications of these reforms. They fear that the new leadership's lack of engagement with diverse societal voices signifies an exclusionary approach to governance and education, contradicting the transitional government’s purported goals of inclusivity.
As school commencement approaches, demonstrators are preparing to make their dissent heard, urging the government to involve broader segments of Syrian society in educational policy decisions. Despite the transitional government's pledge to host a National Dialogue Conference to integrate various communities and perspectives into future governance, activists believe these recent curricular changes already undermine those commitments and threaten the ideals of freedom and participation they hope to uphold in a post-Assad Syria.
