Type: Explainer

Date: September 1, 2025

Summary

This explainer details the establishment of the Higher Council for Education in Syria by Presidential Decree No. 148 on August 25th. The council aims to address a wide range of educational issues, from aligning education with development goals and improving learning outcomes to fostering public trust and supporting teachers.

Key insights:

• Presidential Involvement: 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.

• Government's View of Education: While the stated purpose emphasises economic development and labor market needs, the council's composition, particularly the inclusion of ministers of Awaqf and Culture and a religious advisor, suggests a stronger focus on values, citizenship-building, and potentially integrating religious educational structures into the national system.

• Top-Down Approach: The absence of unions, student representatives, and human rights advocates indicates a state-centric, top-down approach to educational reform rather than a participatory one.

• Effectiveness and Reception: The council could provide necessary political drive, but its true effectiveness will depend on moving beyond symbolism and involving a wider range of government actors to ensure coordination with broader economic and social policies. The announcement has been welcomed by ministers but criticised by activists who fear politicisation due to the council's close ties to the presidency and religious influence.

The establishment of the Higher Council for Education, chaired by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, marks a potentially transformative moment for Syria's education sector, signaling a national priority and promising increased political and financial support. However, inherent risks such as decision-making bottlenecks and a perceived top-down, state-centric approach focused on values over purely economic development temper these prospects.