Syria Education Reform: Rehabilitation of 1,003 Schools to Lift Ban on Learning

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Education (Kemendik) of the Syrian Republic has started to carry out extensive educational reforms by 2025.

The program is a novelty after the Bashar Assad family of more than 50 years leading Syria was overthrown.

SANA quoted AN on Monday, January 5, reporting that this education reform aims to restore the education system, rehabilitate damaged schools, and modernize exams as part of a broader effort to stabilize learning across Syria.

The Syrian Ministry of Education prioritizes the reconstruction of educational infrastructure, completing renovations in 1,003 schools, while another 1,015 schools are still under repair in several provinces.

To promote wider access to education, the ministry also lifted a rule imposed by the Bashar Assad regime that barred students with certain criteria from attending school activities.

Students affected by the Assad-era rules were returned and offered follow-up exams. Registration procedures were simplified, including for students returning from abroad, to make registration easier.

The Syrian Ministry of Education has also launched an initiative to support inclusive education for children with disabilities.

Reforms to the high school and university entrance exams were introduced to improve transparency and administration. Measures taken include the publication of practice materials, the opening of additional examination centers, and the strengthening of anti-cheating controls.

National workshops are held to improve administrative capacity, while information sessions introduce the exam format to students.

According to the Syrian Ministry of Education, more than 15,000 teachers who were previously dismissed by the Assad regime have been rehired.

Efforts are also directed at developing vocational training centers and encouraging student innovation, with the aim of aligning education more closely with the needs of the labor market.

As part of its digital transformation efforts, the ministry is introducing interactive textbooks and a digital library containing millions of educational resources.

Training sessions and workshops are held to strengthen teaching skills and support research-based learning.

Syria is known to have expanded its participation in international educational forums since the Assad regime was overthrown, including the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand, the WISE Summit in Doha, and the Global Education Forum in London.

Cooperation with organizations such as UNESCO, UNICEF, and GIZ was strengthened, and Syria joined the Global Partnership for Education.

This reform was carried out after years of chaos due to the civil war and the actions of the Assad regime, which was overthrown in early December 2024.