27-02-2025
Changes To School Curricula By Syrian Interim Government Spark Criticism For Encouraging Extremism
Following the overthrow of the Syrian regime of Bashar Al-Assad in a military campaign, Nazir Mohammad Al-Qadri, the Education Minister in the interim government formed by Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmad Al-Sharaa (aka Abu Muhammad Al-Joulani), declared that "the educational curricula will remain unchanged, although we will remove any reference to symbols of the oppressive [Assad] regime." [1] These remarks were apparently intended to allay the fears of many inside and outside Syria who are concerned about the possible Islamization of the country under the new regime – given that its head, Al-Sharaa, was until recently the leader of an organization that is designated by many countries as an Islamist terrorist group, [2] and also given that many principal figures in the new regime, including the Minister of Education, are known to hold extremist views.
However, a document recently published by the Education Ministry detailing the changes made to the curricula and the textbooks in Syrian schools indicates that the changes are not confined to removing references to the previous regime, and are aimed at strengthening Syria's Islamic identity. National or secular terms were replaced with more religious ones, and content perceived as contrary to the principles of Islam was removed, such as photographs of statues or idols. Scientific material was also omitted, such as references to the theory of evolution, as well as references to pre-Islamic texts, pictures of pre-Islamic historical figures such as Hammurabi King of Babylon, references to prominent women, and texts by modern Arab poets. Conversely, the period of the Ottoman rule in Syria is presented in a favorable light and its contribution to life in Syria is underscored.
These changes met with opposition and harsh criticism from many in Syria, and in some cases even sparked demonstrations. While most of the critics welcomed the removal of references to the former regime, they stressed that the other changes are far-reaching and are not within the scope of an interim government's authority. These changes, they said, harm the delicate fabric of Syrian society, contravene the values of equality among citizens and between men and women, and undermine the education of the younger generation. They warned against raising generations steeped in Islamic extremism, which would endanger Syria and the entire world. Some wondered why the government was investing such efforts in this issue, which is beyond the scope of its authority, instead of doing what is expected of it as an interim government, namely meeting the daily needs of the citizens.
Education Minister Al-Qadri rejected the criticism, stating that the curricula had merely been "slightly corrected," and that the changes were not rash but based on recommendations from "committees of experts… from all the sects and groups" in Syria. "What is the problem with removing a few photographs from the curricula," he asked, "so long as the information itself remains?" As for changes related to Islam, he said that "some erroneous information was corrected… We presented the correct explanation of verses, as set out in the books of exegesis." He added that his ministry was "willing to listen to all the objections." [3]
In an interview two months later with the Qatari daily Al-Arabi Al-Jadid, Al-Qadri again rejected the criticism and downplayed the significance of the changes to the curricula, saying: "There are no essential problems with the curricula, only with the teaching methods. Nor are there any plans to add Islamic studies." He noted, however, that "science classes will change and certain studies will be added in order to enrich them," without providing further details. [4]
These clarifications are unlikely to allay the concerns in the country and abroad regarding the intentions and inclinations of the new regime, especially since, in addition to the changes to the curricula, the Education Ministry has appointed Islamic preachers to senior administrative positions. For instance, according to reports, Muhammad Suleiman Al-Kafri, an activist in the Islamist Ahrar Al-Sham organization who served as the head of its office of preaching and guidance and also as a judge at the Daraa shari'a court, has been appointed director of education in the Daraa governorate, [5] and cleric Walid Kaboula, who was a preacher at the Ministry of Preaching and Endowments of HTS' Syrian Salvation Government in Idlib, [6] has been appointed director of education in the Latakia governorate. [7]
This report reviews the changes made to the Syrian school curricula by Ahmad Al-Sharaa's interim government, and the criticism against these changes.
Education Minister Nazir Al-Qadri Has Previously Advanced Islamist Education And Gender Segregation In Schools
Education Minister Nazir Muhammad Al-Qadri was born in Damascus in 1970. After graduating from the Department of Arabic Language at Damascus University, he worked for 18 years as an Arabic teacher in the Syrian capital, until his arrest in 2008 for political activism. After his release in 2018 he moved to Idlib, which was controlled by HTS, and joined its education ministry, first as a supervisor and later as a member of the education council and chairman of the ministry's administrative committee. In the last capacity he was responsible for formulating the curricula for the schools in the areas controlled by HTS. [8] On January 19, 2023 he was appointed Minister of Education in the Salvation Government, [9] and with the collapse of the Assad regime and the establishment of Al-Sharaa's interim government he was appointed as its Minister of Education.
Nazir Mohammad Al-Qadri, Minister of Education in Syria's interim government (Image:
According to several reports, some of them from HTS supporters, the Salvation Government's education ministry in Idlib advanced curricula that glorified jihad and promoted an Islamist agenda. For instance, in August 2023 the ministry, headed by Al-Qadri, instructed the private schools in Idlib to take several measures, including segregating boys and girls, removing "illegitimate" pictures from the school fences and enforcing an Islamic dress code for both pupils and women teachers. [10]
In November 2023, about a month after the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, it was reported that an arithmetic test in an Idlib school had included the question: "The mujahideen in Gaza destroyed 32 enemy tanks. In each tank are six [Israeli] operatives. How many of the enemy did they kill?" [11]
Arithmetic test in Idlib (Image: November 20, 2023)
In 2022 it was reported that a sixth-grade English textbook in an HTS school included praise for Samir Al-Suwailim, aka Ibn Al-Khattab, a jihadi commander in Chechnya who fought against Russia in the 1990s. [12]
The Interim Government's Education Ministry Makes Changes To The School Curricula In Syria
Upon his appointment as Education Minister in the interim government, Al-Qadri announced that changes and corrections to the school curricula would be made across Syria already in the present schoolyear, most them involving the removal of references to the previous regime. He abolished "national education" classes, which were compulsory under the previous regime and which, he said, were "a means to teach the principles of the Ba'ath Party and the history of the Bashar Al-Assad family," replacing them with religious studies (Islam for the Muslim pupils and Christianity for the Christian ones). He stressed that the curricula on science and literature would remain unchanged, except for the removal of references to symbols of the previous regime. He also declared that both boys and girls have the right to earn an education, that schools would teach both Islam and Christianity and would not segregate the genders, and that the status quo would remain in place. [13]
However, about two weeks later, on its Facebook page, the Ministry of Education listed the changes that had been made to the textbooks for Islam, Arabic, English, French, science, philosophy, sociology, geography and history. Some of the changes indeed have to do with removing references to the former regime, such as information about and photographs of the Assad family and the Ba'ath Party, and texts penned by its senior members. Thus, a text titled "The Literature of the Resistance," by former Syrian vice president Najah Al-Attar, was removed. However, there are also changes in the spheres of science, religion and history that reflect the Islamist outlook of the new regime, as well as its relations with Turkey.
The following are the main changes listed by the Ministry of Education: [14]
Women : In the Islamic Studies textbook, references to prominent women were removed – for instance Septimia Zenobia, a third-century queen of the Palmyrene Empire in Syria, and Khawla bint Al-Azwar, a seventh-century Arab Muslim warrior who allegedly fought in the ranks of the Prophet Muhammad's army – on the grounds that they are "imaginary figures." [15] In addition, phrases that exalt women were removed, such as "a venerated woman" or "admiration for the mother."
Science : References to evolution were omitted from the textbooks or changed. For example, lessons on "the origin and development of life on earth" were removed, as well as phrases like "the development of the brain," and the phrase "gift of nature" was replaced by "gift of Allah."
Philosophy and law : A chapter dealing with the Code of Hammurabi (a Babylonian legal text from the 18th century BC) was removed, as was a chapter on Chinese philosophy.
Islam : In the Islamic Studies books, expressions were changed or redefined to fit the Islamic outlook. For example, the term sirat al-mustaqim, formerly defined as meaning "the good way," was redefined as meaning "the way of Islam", and the expression "defending the soil of the homeland" was changed to "[fighting] for the sake of Allah." From the English textbooks, pictures of sculptures were removed, on the grounds that making sculptures contravenes Islam, and the word "gods" was omitted, as well as the names of gods, on the grounds of contravening the Islamic principle of monotheism. The phrase "law and justice" was changed to "the laws of Allah," and "fraternity of mankind" was replaced with "brethren in faith."
Attitude towards Jews and Christians : The explanation offered for the Quranic phrase "those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray" (Quran 1:7) was changed. The literal interpretation favored by the previous regime, namely that the phrase refers to people who have left the path of righteousness, was replaced with the traditional Islamic interpretation, that the verse refers to the Jews and the Christians.
Attitude towards Turkey : The changes listed suggest that the new regime is making an effort to cultivate good relations with Turkey, which was one of the main patrons of HTS, and to foster a positive view of the Ottoman Empire, which ruled Syria until 1919. Two texts, titled "The Ottoman Oppression" and "The Oppressive Ottoman Rule" were removed.
Modern Literature : The changes also include omitting texts by modern Arab poets whose outlook is at odds with that of HTS. One of the texts omitted, for example, is by Jamil Sidqi Al-Zahawi, a prominent Iraqi poet known for championing women's rights and for calling to adopt values such as modernism and rationalism. Poems on themes of love or desire were also omitted.
The list of changes to the curricula, published by the Education Ministry
Reactions In Syria: An Interim Government Must Not Make Changes That Harm The Social Fabric And Inculcate Extremism
The announcement of the Education Ministry sparked extensive criticism among Syrians, focused on two aspects: the fact that an interim government is not authorized to change the curricula, and the nature of the changes.
An Interim Government Is Not Authorized To Change The Curricula; This Is An Alarming Precedent
The critics claimed that an interim government is meant to manage the country's daily affairs until a permanent government can be elected, and has no authority to make fundamental changes that have implications for the country's future. Adib Al-Shishakly, a member of the National Coalition of Opposition Forces, previously the primary coalition of Syrian opposition groups, wrote: "Feel free to manage the [country's] daily affairs, but perhaps you could leave the major and sovereign decisions for the Syrian people [to handle] after the National Assembly is convened and the constitution is ratified." [16]
Syrian journalist Ziad Haidar wrote on his X account: "I have never heard of or read about an interim government, revolutionary or non-revolutionary, that tries to change the curricula of its country and nation. That has never happened. A new reading [of the curricula], yes, but not changing history. This is an alarming precedent." [17]
Dr. Ahmad Jassim Al-Hussein, a lecturer and member of the council supervising Syria's textbooks and curricula, told the Qatari Al-Quds Al-Arabi daily: "Changing the curricula is a strategic decision that reflects the country's outlook and strategies… An interim government should not start new wars or controversies or [create] problems in society. It should run the country without antagonizing people. Changing the curricula is completely at odds with the role of this government. Making such changes requires experts…" [18]
Rami Jarrah, a Syrian journalist who opposed the Assad regime, warned on his X account that such "unilateral changes" could deepen social divisions and called for them to be carried out in a framework that guarantees the participation of all sectors of Syrian society. [19]
Journalist Mirella Abu Shanab criticized the government for focusing on such issues while neglecting more pressing matters. She told the Al-Arabi Al-Jadid daily: "If the government [had time to] carefully examine the curriculum and change so many points in it, then it [should] certainly have enough time to address the day-to-day matters and the services it is required to provide, such as electricity, water, price hikes and the like – issues for which no plans have yet been developed." [20]
The Changes To The Curricula Are Part Of An Effort To Turn Syria Into A Religious State; This Detracts From Our Victory Over Tyranny
As stated, criticism was also directed at the content of the changes introduced, which, the opponents said, reflect an extremist Islamist ideology, and belie Al-Sharaa's moderate statements, which were apparently aimed at calming Western concerns and garnering Western support. [21]
Syrian lawyer Ghazwan Qaranafel, another oppositionist to the Assad regime, agreed that the curriculum requires amendments but likewise argued that they should only be made after the establishment of a permanent government. He added that the changes made by the interim government are part of an effort to lay the groundwork for a religious state and law.
He wrote: "It is not the state's job to get people into Paradise in the afterlife; the state should suffice with creating a paradise for them in this world. Only Allah is responsible for their fate in the afterlife... Anyone who thinks that citizenship stands in contradiction to religion or to the right of individuals or groups to teach their religious laws and perform their religious rituals... is afflicted with an ignorant outlook… Statements and actions that do not consolidate the value of citizenship – [but rather] differentiate between people in terms of rights and duties, treat people as subjects rather than citizens and describe non-Muslims as going astray – undermine the Syrians' rights to be equal citizens in a state that respects their humanity and safeguards their rights. Any attempt to introduce curricula that lead to the establishment of a religious state in Syria will destroy its victory over tyranny and lead to perdition…" [22]
Rami Jarrah made similar remarks on X, stating that "religious studies should be taught to students not to build faith, but to provide a historical understanding of religion from an objective standpoint. These classes should focus on the history and context of different belief systems, fostering knowledge and critical thinking." [23]
Syrian journalist Ziad Haidar wrote on Facebook: "This is very alarming. What is the dark source of [these ideas]??? Now I don't know if the [moderate] statements made by Ahmad Al-Sharaa, commander of the [Military Operations] Department, mean anything…" [24]
Haidar mocked some of the changes made to the curricula. Referring to the explanation that the phrase "those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray" in Quran 1:7 refers to the Jews and Christians, he wrote: "To my friends who have gone astray, my home and heart are open to you." [25] Alluding to the omission of the text on Queen Zenobia and the lesson on "the development of the brain," he posted an illustration of a woman fighting a monster, and wrote in Arabic and English: "Super hero Zenobia confronts the brain-development monster." [26]
Ziad Haidar's post about Queen Zenobia
The Amended Curricula Will Create Generations Of Extremists Who Will Threaten The Region And The World And Discourage International Aid
The critics also warned that the amended curricula will inculcate extremism in Syrian youngsters, which will endanger not only Syria but the region and the world. Journalist and activist Shiyar Khaleal wrote on his Facebook account that "education based on extremist ideologies could cultivate individuals with views that threaten regional and international security." He also warned that "linking education in Syria to extremist agendas will undermine opportunities for international aid to help Syria rebuild its education sector." [27]
Journalist Ziad Haidar expressed a similar fear, calling the curricular changes "educational executions" and adding: "Many countries around the world will rethink their attitude towards HTS and may also rethink the requests for political asylum [by Syrian refugees], especially since this is a threat to religious groups." [28]
Protests Against The Curricular Changes
In addition to the criticism, there were also calls for action. Playwright Haytham Al-Tofaily called on Syrian society to "resist" the curricular changes, "which can lead to internal strife and exclusion that the pupils will have to deal with in the future." [29]
Journalist and activist Shiyar Khaleal urged the relevant Syrian organizations to act on several levels: pressuring international donors and organizations to withhold support for "extremist curricula"; strengthen alternative education frameworks in the refugee camps or online; mobilizing teachers and other citizens to oppose any change that will harm the future of the next generations, and monitoring the curricular changes to present them to international elements. [30]
Teachers and citizens in some parts of Syria indeed held protests against the "distortion" of the curricula. [31]
In a Al-Suwayda governorate demonstration, a protester holds up a sign saying: "Religion is for Allah's and knowledge is the for the homeland. Don't warp our children's brains; knowledge builds the future and extremism kills it" (Image: January 3, 2025)
Protester holds a sign saying: "We came to say no to the decision to change the curricula and distort facts: (Image: January 3, 2025)
Demonstration against the curricular changes in front of the education ministry building in Damascus (Image: Al-Arabi Al-Jadid, London, January 5, 2025)
[1] December 20, 2024.
[2] Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham started out as a jihadist group called Jabhat Al-Nusrah. Al-Sharaa, then an associate of ISIS founder Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, established it in 2012 after Al-Baghdadi sent him to Syria to create a branch of the Islamic State in that country. In 2013 Al-Joulani broke with Al-Baghdadi and swore allegiance to Al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri, and Jabhat Al-Nusrah became the official affiliate of Al-Qaeda in Syria. In 2016 Al-Sharaa severed his ties with Al-Qaeda as well, and his organization merged with several other Islamist groups in Syria and changed its name, first to Jabhat Fath Al-Sham and later, in 2017, to Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham. For more on the concerns about the new regime in Syria, see MEMRI reports: Inquiry & Analysis Series No. 1799: Syrian Opposition Elements Express Concerns About Exclusion From New Regime: Assad's Tyranny Must Not Be Replaced By Tyranny Headed By Al-Sharaa AKA Al-Joulani, December 23, 2024; Special Dispatch No. 11743, New Syrian Government's Head Of Women's Affairs Supports Hamas, Opposes Gender Equality, Believes U.S. Officials Are Criminals, December 24, 2024; JTTM reports, Justice Minister In Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS)-Linked New Syrian Government Documented Participating In 2015 Execution; Anti-HTS Channel Calls For His Prosecution, January 5, 2025; JTTM report,
Appointment Of Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) Strongman Anas Khattab As Syria's New Intel Chief Sparks Controversy; Jihadi Opponents Accuse Him Of Collusion With Turkey To Eliminate Al - Qaeda Leaders, December 30, 2024.
[3] January 5, 2025; January 2, 2025.
[4] Al-Arabi Al-Jadid (Qatar), February 25, 2025.
[5] January 6, 2025.
[6] May 9, 2020.
[7] January 5, 2025.
[8] December 12, 2023.
[10] August 7, 2023.
[13] December 20, 2024.
[14] Ministry of Education, January 1, 2025.
[15] It should be mentioned that, while the historicity of Khawla bint Al-Azwar is indeed disputed, Septimia Zenobia's is not.
[16] January 1, 2025.
[17] January 1, 2025.
[18] Al-Quds Al-Arabi (London), January 2, 2025.
[19] January 1, 2025.
[20] Al-Arabi Al-Jadid (London), January 5, 2025.
[22] January 5, 2025.
[23] January 1, 2025.
[24] January 1, 2025.
[25] January 1, 2025.
[26] January 1, 2025.
[27] January 1, 2025.
[28] January 1, 2025.
[29] Al-Arabi Al-Jadid (London), January 5, 2025.
[30] January 1, 2025.
[31] January 3, 2025.
