Type: Policy Brief
Date: October 29, 2025

Summary

The policy paper 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.

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​The framework is built on four dimensions:

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• 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. 

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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.