Afrin, Aleppo Students' Association decry exclusion

Dozens of members of the Afrin and Aleppo Students’ Association gathered today in the city of Afrin to protest being denied their educational rights. They issued a written statement, a copy of which was obtained by ANHA agency.

"Statement by the Afrin and Aleppo Students’ Association, voice of families, teachers and students,

Today, we, the students of Afrin and Aleppo, are facing systematic exclusion, which affects all aspects of our daily lives, from the lack of education in our language to being denied our place in schools.

Promises are made and efforts to find solutions are discussed each time, but on the ground, no practical measures have been taken. This poses a serious threat to our academic year.

Today, we do not see ourselves or our teachers in Aleppo and Afrin included in the integration process within social and educational institutions, despite the fact that our teachers have been among the most dedicated educators and have never abandoned students’ right to education, even amid war and siege.

Therefore, we urgently call for the integration of teachers from Afrin and Aleppo. Enough is enough; we no longer want mere attempts. We want concrete action.

Students in the ninth and twelfth grades were told that a transitional phase would be established for them under the Autonomous Administration’s curriculum. Unfortunately, around 1,000 students from the two grades remain out of school, waiting for the transitional phase to begin.

Two months of the academic year have passed without any response. We demand that this situation be resolved within two weeks. If our right to education and integration is not affirmed, we will not give up our right and will continue to demand it in the streets every day.

No life without language.

Language is existence and identity.

ANHA