plowunited.net – Syria’s caretaker government has ignited widespread backlash after announcing controversial amendments to school textbooks for grades 1 through 12. The changes, revealed Wednesday by the Education Ministry, target history, religion, and science subjects. Critics argue the revisions erase cultural and scientific content, sparking concerns among parents, educators, and rights groups.
The directive comes weeks after former President Bashar al-Assad’s regime was overthrown in an Islamist-led offensive spearheaded by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS. Which now dominates the caretaker government. The revised textbooks remove all content glorifying Assad’s regime, its leaders, symbols, and the Baath Party, which had ruled Syria since 1963.
Key changes include eliminating references to women, love, and pre-Islamic gods in history and religion texts, as well as removing an entire unit on human evolution from science books. The revisions have drawn sharp criticism for prioritizing political agendas over education.
Fadwa, a mother of two schoolchildren in Damascus, voiced her frustration over the changes. She told VOA via messaging app, “You can remove all mentions of Assad and his regime from books, but you cannot erase history and obscure science — it’s just wrong.”. “This is not a political matter, but it concerns the future of our children and country.”
The amendments have raised fears about the long-term impact on Syrian students’ education. Many worry the removal of essential topics will hinder critical thinking and deprive future generations of a well-rounded education.
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Syria Education Reforms Face Criticism Amid HTS Leadership and Allegations of Ideological Imposition
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which emerged as Syria’s ruling power after overthrowing President Bashar al-Assad. Faces growing criticism for its controversial education reforms. Although HTS severed ties with al-Qaida in 2016, experts say the group still upholds radical Islamist ideologies. Which some believe are influencing its governance.
HTS leaders have promised to establish an inclusive government reflecting Syria’s religious and ethnic diversity. However, critics argue that recent actions, including unilateral textbook revisions, contradict these claims. Syrian educator Youssif Ahmed criticized the group’s approach, saying, “They say all the good things on television, but the reality is that this group is imposing its ideology on Syrians.”
Ahmed pointed out specific curriculum changes, such as replacing the term “Ottoman occupation” of Syria with “Ottoman rule,” which he believes aims to appease Turkey, a key HTS ally. Turkey has played a significant role in supporting the offensive that led to Assad’s overthrow and has pledged to assist in rebuilding Syria’s political and economic structures.
While some amendments, like removing praise for Assad, are seen as positive, other revisions have sparked serious concerns. Syrian journalist Rami Jarrah emphasized the importance of inclusivity in decision-making. “These amendments require an inclusive framework that ensures representation from all segments of Syrian society,” he wrote on social media. “Without this, these unilateral changes risk deepening societal divisions and undermining the principles of shared governance and national unity.”
Education Minister Defends Curriculum Changes Amid Warnings of Religious Intolerance
Nazir al-Qadri, the education minister of Syria’s caretaker government, defended the recent school curriculum amendments amid mounting criticism, asserting that the government had not implemented sweeping changes.. Qadri stated on Thursday, “Specialized committees must review the curricula, and all Syrian school content should remain unchanged until then.”
The ministry clarified that the changes focused on removing content that glorified the Assad regime. “We have adopted images of the Syrian Revolution flag instead of the former regime’s flag in all schoolbooks,” Qadri explained. He added that revisions targeted misinformation in the Islamic education curriculum. Correcting interpretations of Quranic verses as stated in traditional interpretation texts.
One controversial addition includes explicitly naming “Jews” and “Christians” in the explanation of a Quranic verse about those who angered God. Critics, including the Assyrian Monitor for Human Rights, argue that such changes threaten Syria’s tradition of religious coexistence. The Christian advocacy group, based in Sweden, stated, “This action is considered an explicit incitement to religious hatred and the spread of discrimination and exclusion speech.”
Observers have also expressed concerns about the broader implications of the changes. Joshua Landis, director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma. Remarked on social media that “the new Syria school textbooks are moving from a nationalist to Islamist interpretation of Syrian history.”
As public backlash grows, critics warn that these revisions could deepen societal divisions. Advocacy groups and scholars are urging the government to reconsider the changes and adopt a more inclusive and tolerant approach. The controversy highlights the delicate balance between addressing historical inaccuracies and preserving the principles of unity and coexistence that have long defined Syrian society.
