Syria’s Education Ministry, under the nation’s new administration, ignited widespread public debate yesterday with its announcement of curriculum changes. [Getty]
The Ministry of Education, led by newly appointed Nazir Mohammad al-Qadri under Syria’s new administration, announced sweeping reforms to the national curriculum on Wednesday which has sparked widespread debate.
These changes, which affect all educational levels, have triggered outrage among some Syrians, particularly regarding amendments to subjects such as Religious Studies and History.
The proposed reforms involve significant revisions, including the removal of references to Syria’s historical connections with polytheistic religions.
According to the ministry, numerous textbooks are set to undergo heavy editing, such as texts being deleted, rephrased- as well as altering or removing images and illustrations in numerous textbooks.
These changes also include eliminating content linked to the ousted Assad regime and rewording passages on gods in history and philosophy books.
Additionally, texts addressing the Ottoman Empire’s rule, previously described in the Syrian curriculum as “the brutal Ottoman authority,” are set to be removed entirely.
In Philosophy, sections on topics such as “Chinese philosophical thought” are to be deleted, with remaining content rephrased.
The English Language subject has also undergone extensive changes, with entire sections deleted or rewritten across various educational levels.
Meanwhile, images and references to the Assad family, who ruled Syria for decades before being overthrown by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham-led rebels last month, will be removed or reworded.
Among the most major changes is the cancellation of the “National Education” subject for the current academic year.
Minister al-Qadri stated the decision was made due to the “misleading information” in the subject, which allegedly aimed to promote the propaganda of the ousted Assad regime and solidify the foundations of his Baath party.
Instead, grades for the National Education subject will be replaced with those from Islamic or Christian Religious Education.
Religious Education will now contribute to the overall score for the General Secondary Certificate across all academic branches.
Widespread debate
These extensive reforms reflect a shift in the country’s educational priorities and have fuelled heated debates among Syrians over their implications for the nation’s cultural and historical identity.
Critics of Syria’s newly proposed curriculum amendments have taken to social media, voicing concerns over what they see as a potential shift “from a nationalist to an Islamist interpretation” of the country’s history, as argued by US academic Joshua Landis on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
The backlash intensified following al-Qadri’s announcement, as Syrians are reportedly organising protests against the reforms and calling for al-Qadri’s dismissal.
Syrian journalist Hussam Hammoud commented on X, “After reviewing the amendments, it’s clear that, aside from removing signs of the criminal Assad regime, the remaining changes have a distinct religious tone.”
Social media users have also circulated calls for nationwide protests on Friday to express opposition to the new curriculum.
However, The New Arab has not independently verified these claims.
The controversy surrounding the reforms has reignited fears for the safety of Syria’s minority groups however Syria’s de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, recently met with senior Christian leaders amid ongoing efforts to reassure minority rights being guaranteed under the new administration.
