Syria’s newly appointed caretaker Ministry of Education has reversed controversial proposals to revise the national curriculum, following a widespread backlash across social media. The suggested alterations, which raised concerns among secular Syrians, were seen as efforts to impose religious conservatism into the education system.
The proposed changes included modifying a Quranic verse to refer to Jews and Christians as individuals who had angered God, removing poetry related to love, women, and “gods,” and amending a chapter in the biology textbook that discusses the origins and evolution of life. Other suggested revisions sought to alter the portrayal of Syria’s ancient monuments and figures, including the famous Queen Zenobia of Palmyra, and to downplay the historical significance of the Ottoman Empire’s rule over Syria, specifically by erasing terms such as “Turkish oppression” and “Ottoman aggression.” This appeared to be an effort to appease Syria’s Turkish allies, as noted by the Times UK.
The backlash was swift, as Syrians on social media condemned the changes, accusing the interim government of overstepping its mandate and inflaming sectarian divisions. Within a day of the proposal’s publication, Nazir Mohammad al-Qadri, the country’s education minister, attempted to mitigate the controversy. He clarified that the goal of the proposed curriculum changes was to remove content that glorified the deposed Assad regime and to correct “misinterpretations” of religious texts. Al-Qadri further assured the public that the revisions would be reviewed by a “specialist committee” before any implementation, signaling a possible retreat from the initial plan.
The incident comes during a pivotal moment for Syria, following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the rise to power of the Islamist-led group, Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS). The HTS, having recently taken control of Damascus, has been slow to unveil its broader vision for the country, with many citizens looking to the curriculum changes for insights into the administration’s intentions.
Dr. Elian Mousad, coordinator of the Secular Democratic Front, denounced the proposed changes, calling them “backwards” and “racist” toward religious minorities. He argued that the revisions played into the hands of Assad loyalists, who could use the shift to argue that the previous regime was more tolerant and progressive.
While HTS leaders have emphasized the protection of religious minority rights, sporadic incidents of sectarian violence have raised doubts about the new government’s commitment to inclusivity. Washington-based pro-democracy activist Ammar Abdulhamid commented on the complexity of the situation, noting that the self-appointed government’s Islamist ideology, combined with its status as a designated terrorist entity, makes it difficult to predict its future direction.
The controversial education reform proposals were not the only cause for concern in recent days. A statement by Aisha al-Dibs, head of the Women’s Affairs Office and the sole female appointee in the interim government, sparked criticism after she remarked that women should “not go beyond the priorities of their God-given nature” and suggested her office would only engage with women who shared her views. Later, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani sought to soften the remarks, asserting that the government would “fully support” women’s rights.
Despite the tensions, some view the back-and-forth over these issues as a sign that the transitional government is attempting to balance its religious conservatism with the need to address the sensitivities of the diverse Syrian population.
As Syria enters a new phase, educators and citizens alike are concerned about the long-term impact these policy changes might have on the country’s cultural and intellectual landscape. Mike, a fine arts teacher at Damascus University, expressed his unease about the potential for censorship but noted that Syria’s educated populace would likely resist any drastic curtailments of freedom.
