Educational shortages in Homs, its countryside threaten students’ future

Homs and its rural areas are facing escalating challenges in the education sector, imposing significant constraints on the development of the learning process. Despite ongoing discussions about efforts to improve the sector, economic pressures and structural problems continue to hinder progress and deepen the educational crisis.

Among the most pressing issues is the rise in targeted violence against teachers. This month witnessed sectarian-motivated assassinations that claimed the lives of three teachers at the hands of armed individuals.

At the same time, cases of student misconduct toward teachers are on the rise, further widening the gap between the two sides and complicating the educational process.

Severe Infrastructure Damage

Educational infrastructure faces major obstacles, as many schools in Homs and its countryside have suffered extensive damage, limiting their ability to accommodate the growing number of students. This reality has forced reliance on temporary solutions such as double- and triple-shift schedules, which have consequently shortened lesson times and negatively affected both student and teacher concentration.

Additionally, many schools lack essential equipment including seating, teaching tools, laboratories, and heating creating an environment that does not meet students’ needs.

A shortage of educational resources poses another core challenge. Students are often forced to rely on old, worn-out textbooks or limited learning materials, while frequent power outages make digital learning increasingly difficult.

With fuel shortages, the absence of heating during the harsh winter months further worsens conditions. Poor water and sanitation services add extra pressure, especially in overcrowded schools, heightening health-related burdens.

Teachers Under Mounting Pressure

Teachers face harsh living and economic conditions due to very low salaries and rising living costs. Many say they are compelled to seek additional jobs to improve their financial situation, which affects their performance in classrooms. Furthermore, the scarcity of professional training and development programs prevents the adoption of modern teaching methods, leaving traditional approaches dominant.

According to educational supervisors, these combined challenges are driving up school dropout rates. Economic pressures have pushed many children to leave school and join the workforce in order to support their families. Meanwhile, the overall decline in education quality has weakened students’ academic performance and harmed their ability to pursue future ambitions.

Situation More Severe in Rural Areas

In rural areas such as Al-Qusayr and its countryside, the crisis is even more severe. Schools there suffer from acute shortages in equipment, with classroom overcrowding reaching levels that exceed building capacity some classrooms now host more than 60 students.

Many villages are in urgent need of secondary school repairs and facility upgrades to reduce the long distances students must travel to reach better-equipped schools.

These harsh conditions have prompted families to demand swift plans to rehabilitate deteriorating schools and ensure a proper learning environment for their children.

A local education official in Homs reported that around 317 schools are damaged, with only 20 rehabilitated so far, while work has begun on renovating 40 more through local community efforts.

Experts Urge Comprehensive Solutions

Education experts stress the need for fundamental solutions, including increasing school rehabilitation budgets, reducing classroom density, ensuring adequate availability of textbooks and learning supplies at the start of each semester, improving teacher salaries, and offering financial incentives to stabilize the teaching workforce. They also emphasize the importance of strengthening vocational and technical education to meet local labor market needs.

Implementing these solutions as part of a comprehensive plan is essential to creating a better educational environment, securing a brighter future for upcoming generations, and ensuring sustainable education that meets community aspirations and supports long-term development.

ANHA