Syria’s New Leaders Face Backlash Over Proposed Curriculum Overhaul
The Islamist-led caretaker government has delayed implementing controversial education reforms following criticism from secular Syrians and religious minorities.
- Proposed curriculum changes include removing poetry about love and women, references to gods in ancient history, and content on Queen Zenobia’s historical achievements.
- The amendments would replace nationalist education with religious teachings and reinterpret Quranic verses in ways that critics say target Jews and Christians.
- Secular activists and educators have condemned the changes as extremist and divisive, warning of long-term societal and regional security consequences.
- The education ministry announced that the proposed changes will be reviewed by a specialist committee, with officials claiming they primarily aimed to remove Assad-era propaganda.
- The transitional government, led by former al-Qaeda affiliate Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has faced growing concerns about its Islamist agenda and its ability to uphold Syria's religious and ethnic diversity.
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