70,000 students await exams in NE Syria 

The education sector in Syria has undergone significant changes since the fall of the Ba'ath regime on December 8, 2024, negatively affecting the educational process and creating growing concern among students following the Damascus authority’s curriculum in the North and East Syria region.

Amid these changes, the fate of students studying under the Damascus authority’s curriculum in North and East Syria has become uncertain. The Autonomous Administration has affirmed its commitment to keeping schools open to all students; however, the issue of examinations remains unresolved, sparking frustration among students and their families.

To ensure the continuity of education for preparatory and secondary certificate students following the Damascus authority’s curriculum, the Education Body in North and East Syria took the initiative to contact UNICEF. An official meeting was held with the Ministry of Education under the Damascus authority on April 13 and 14, 2025.

The meeting resulted in an agreement on key points, most notably: facilitating student registration procedures, extending the time period to accommodate all students studying the Damascus authority’s curriculum, enabling students to take exams in their own regions to ensure their comfort and safety, forming a temporary joint committee to organize the examination process, and continuing education under the Autonomous Administration's curriculum as previously adopted.

Despite this agreement, the Ministry of Education under the Damascus authority has not taken any practical steps to implement it, leaving the education file unresolved and causing uncertainty among thousands of students.

In response to this delay, the Education Body in North and East Syria announced the possibility of independently organizing preparatory and secondary certificate exams according to the Damascus authority’s curriculum if the ministry continues to ignore the initial agreements.

The education issue topped the agenda of the meeting held in Damascus between the North and East Syria delegation and the Damascus authority on June 1, 2025. One of the agreement's clauses included efforts to resolve outstanding issues and ensure students' rights and the integrity of the educational process. However, no further details were provided regarding the time and place for students to take their exams.

According to multiple sources and records from the Ministry of Education under the Damascus authority, the number of preparatory and secondary students studying the Damascus authority’s curriculum in North and East Syria is approximately 70,000.

A-H 

ANHA