Type: Policy Brief

Date: October 29, 2025

Summary

The policy brief proposes a framework for a consensus-based and transformative curriculum policy in post-conflict Syria, arguing that reform is a political-social project that requires a clear "curriculum policy" to prevent further fragmentation.

The framework is built on four dimensions:

• Governance and Participation: Requires a multi-level and inclusive process involving civil society, unions, and various ministries, linked to local development goals.

• Curriculum Identity: Focuses on shaping the "good citizen" through integrated frameworks that balance national and global issues, promote equality (rights-based, gender-based), embrace cultural diversity, and value traditional knowledge alongside digital skills.

• Legitimacy: Demands societal acceptance and teacher buy-in, achieved by reviewing and integrating useful elements from the existing fragmented curricula, ensuring social consultation, and linking the new curriculum to state development visions and legal-constitutional agreements.

• Cultural and Linguistic Sensitivity: Emphasises reflecting diverse local contexts as sources of knowledge, presenting sensitive topics neutrally, and recognising the mother tongue as a fundamental right, while carefully managing politically loaded terminology and foreign language introduction. 

Success depends on early planning for participation, inclusivity, and continuous evaluation to ensure the reform unifies society rather than deepening divisions. The President's direct involvement signals education as a national priority, potentially mobilising political and financial support, which is a significant departure from the past. However, it also carries the risk of centralising decision-making and creating a bottleneck in policy-making, potentially slowing down reforms.