• Reformulating Curricula in Line with a New Constitution Reflecting the Will of All Sectors of Syrian Society
• The urgency of establishing schools in all Syrian cities according to global educational standards.
• The availability of qualified educational staff for all schools represents a real challenge for the new government.
• Vocational and technical education contributes to the reconstruction process and the achievement of economic and social development.

The Importance of Education Post-Conflict

After a bloody war lasting more than 13 years waged by the Syrian regime against its people to quash their rightful demands for building a state of justice, the importance of education emerges as a fundamental pillar for rebuilding the future of Syria. In light of current challenges, education represents a vital tool for formulating a new social contract that entrenches the values of pluralism and citizenship and guarantees a stable and bright future for upcoming generations. This necessitates rethinking the Syrian educational system as the primary driver for uplifting society and rebuilding the Syrian state.

UN Reports on Syrian Education

Reports from UN-affiliated organizations in 2023 indicated that more than 2.4 million Syrian children of school age (between 5 and 17 years old) have been deprived of education inside and outside Syria due to the ongoing conflict. This figure represents about 40% of Syrian children in this age group. In northwestern Syria alone, the number of children who have dropped out of school is estimated at around 800,000.

Major Future Challenges Facing the Educational Sector in Syria

1. Developing Educational Curricula For decades, the Syrian regime's curricula have focused on reinforcing the ideology of the ruling Ba'ath Party, designed to enhance political loyalty to the regime and embed the symbolism of the leader and his family in students' consciousness, while neglecting the real human and social issues facing Syrian society. These curricula have deliberately excluded the cultural and religious plurality of Syrian society, marginalized the culture of the Sunni Muslim majority and ignoring the rights and cultural peculiarities of minorities. This approach has created a knowledge, value, and cultural gap between educational content and the diverse needs of Syrian society. Therefore, the incoming Syrian government faces a fundamental challenge in reformulating educational curricula in line with a new constitution that reflects the will of all segments of the Syrian people. This constitution, expected to form a new social contract, will enhance national unity and contribute to societal reconciliation.

Redesigning the curricula to be inclusive, flexible, and rich in values and morals based on our rich history and civilization, and in line with the needs of Syrian society and sustainable development requirements, represents a critical step. These curricula should draw inspiration from successful international experiences of countries that have faced similar conflicts, while considering modern technological and scientific developments.

2. Rehabilitating Educational Infrastructure

UNICEF reports indicate that nearly one-third of schools in Syria have been damaged or completely destroyed due to the war. Additionally, many remaining schools are being used as shelters or military bases. Last year, the former Minister of Education in the Syrian regime government estimated the number of damaged schools at around 10,000, with 5,000 completely destroyed, reducing the number of usable schools to 14,505.

Given the return of displaced and refugee populations to Syria and the increase in population density, estimated by UNICEF to be about 6.5 million Syrian children, establishing schools quickly in all Syrian cities while adhering to global educational standards will pose a significant challenge. This undoubtedly requires urgent international support.

3. Ensuring Qualified Teaching Staff

Years of war have led to the displacement and migration of a large number of qualified teachers. According to a UNESCO report in 2023, Syria suffers from a severe shortage of qualified teachers, with the current educational system relying on volunteers or inadequately trained teachers. Ensuring the availability of educational competencies for all schools presents a real challenge for the new government. Offering competitive salaries will be a major attraction for educational talents.

4. Education in the Context of Trauma

Millions of Syrian children suffer from psychological and social effects due to the war. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, approximately 70% of children in Syria show signs of psychological disorders, making the integration of psychological and social support in schools extremely important. UNICEF's 2022 report states that Syrian children continue to live lives filled with fear and terror—fear of violence, loss of friends and loved ones, landmines, and explosive remnants of war. They suffer from physical and psychological injuries, and if their trauma is left untreated, it is likely to have severe long-term effects on their health and future.

The incoming Syrian government must find effective solutions to enhance children's mental health and treat war-induced disorders through creative educational means involving all official Syrian societal institutions and civil society organizations.

5. Vocational Education as a Pillar for Reconstruction

Vocational education is one of the key components for building Syria's future, especially given the exceptional conditions resulting from the prolonged years of war. With hundreds of thousands of illiterates who have been cut off from education, vocational and technical education can be a bridge connecting these individuals to the labor market and enhancing their practical skills, directly contributing to the reconstruction process and achieving economic and social development.

Inspirational examples from countries like Japan and Germany, which relied on advanced vocational education systems to rebuild their economies after wars, can be instructive. In Japan, the vocational education system was designed to integrate with industrial and economic needs, creating a generation of skilled workers capable of advancing the economy. In Germany, the "dual education" model is a prime example of integrating theoretical education with practical training within work environments, providing the labor market with highly trained personnel.

Future Directions for Vocational Education in Syria

1. Rehabilitating the Illiterate and Education-Deprived: Through short-term training programs aligned with local needs, such as construction, carpentry, agriculture, and other professions directly contributing to reconstruction.
2. Aligning Vocational Education with Labor Market Requirements: By establishing partnerships between vocational education institutions and the private sector, ensuring that learners acquire the necessary skills.
3. Promoting Professional Values: Such as teamwork, discipline, and creativity, to build a workforce capable of shouldering its responsibilities in a post-war society.
4. Establishing Local Vocational Training Centers: Distributed across cities and villages, especially in areas that suffered the most destruction, to be accessible to beneficiaries.

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Sources

1- UNICEF report on education in Syria: UNICEF Syria Education. 

2- UNESCO report on children out of education: UNESCO Syria Report. 

3- World Bank report on education in affected areas: World Bank Education. 

4- Save the Children report on the condition of schools: Save the Children.