Syria’s education system is in dire need of change. Mohammad Saed Qaddour, the Director of Education at the Syrian Ministry of Education, emphasizes that reforms are essential and must be well-structured and funded. In a recent interview, he discussed the importance of updating educational content to keep it relevant amid ongoing scientific and technological changes.
Qaddour highlights the need for a curriculum overhaul. He suggests that educational materials should be reviewed and updated at least every ten years to stay in line with advancements. Currently, the curriculum in Syria reflects political ideologies, particularly glorifying past regimes. He stated, “We need to remove the glorification of past leadership, which has fostered dictatorship and personality cults.” Reforms, he believes, should be thoughtful and not rushed.
The process of reforming education is complex. It involves training workshops, expert consultations, and a careful implementation plan that could stretch over four years. Qaddour warns that rushing these changes might create inconsistencies and gaps in the quality of education.
Regarding private education, Qaddour notices a sharp divide between areas controlled by the regime and those under opposition control. In liberated regions, private schools have grown quickly, providing competitive services at lower fees. However, this has led to many schools being underfilled.
On the other hand, in regime-controlled areas, private education seems to serve only the wealthy and the politically connected. “This has caused overcrowding and high tuition fees, making education more of a privilege,” he explained. He advocates for stronger public education systems and better regulation of private schools to prevent exploitation and ensure that education is accessible to all.
On the topics of illiteracy and school dropouts, Qaddour plans to collaborate with the Ministry of Culture to create literacy programs aimed at adults who missed out on formal education. For younger individuals who have dropped out, an accelerated learning program is being considered to help them quickly catch up.
Qaddour also weighed in on the hijab, explaining that fears about it being associated with extremism are unfounded. He believes this misunderstanding stems from a lack of knowledge. He noted that modesty has been a valued principle in many cultures, not just in Islam. Qaddour referenced historical figures, like the Virgin Mary, to illustrate that modesty transcends religious boundaries.
He criticized past attempts by the government, specifically Rifaat al-Assad’s policies, that forced women to remove their hijabs in public spaces. He views this as an attack on personal freedoms and asserts that the aim should be to respect individual choices rather than impose limitations.
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