Residents of Deir ez-Zor countryside call for reversal of decision to close several educational complexes

Residents of Al-Susah and the surrounding villages in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor have called on the Directorate of Education and Teaching to reconsider its decision to close the Al-Susah Educational Complex, stressing that priority should be given to ensuring the continuation of educational and administrative services provided to students and schools in the area.

In a statement and during a protest in the town, residents said that abolishing the complex could affect a number of services, foremost among them examination centers for students taking certificate examinations. They warned that losing an examination center in Al-Susah could force students to travel to other areas to sit their exams, adding transportation and financial burdens for students and their families.

According to the residents, the complex has six security personnel and four support staff, who are scheduled to be distributed among schools. They argue that keeping the complex open would provide a nearby administrative center for following up on the affairs of schools, staff, and students, particularly given the large geographical area and the number of villages that rely on its services.

Residents also expressed concerns about how textbooks, furniture, and educational supplies would be provided if schools affiliated with the complex were transferred to another educational complex. They stressed that any restructuring should take into account the geographical characteristics of the area, the distances between villages and schools, and the scale of educational needs there.

According to the residents, these concerns extend to neighboring villages and areas, including Al-Shuhail and Al-Baghuz, whose residents rely on the educational and administrative services provided by the complex. This has prompted them to call for an assessment of the area’s circumstances before a final decision is made regarding the complex’s future.

One of the options under consideration is converting the complex building into a school. However, residents point out that making use of the building in this way would require providing teaching and administrative staff, textbooks, desks, equipment, and educational supplies, stressing that the building alone would not guarantee the continuation of the educational process.

The demands of Al-Susah residents come amid similar objections in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor in recent days. On September 17, teachers at the Euphrates Educational Complex in Abu Hamam and Al-Kashkiyah announced the suspension of official classes and launched an open-ended strike in protest against the decision to abolish the complex. They called for its preservation, activation, and official recognition within the Ministry of Education and Teaching. According to local sources, the complex includes 71 schools and serves more than 30,000 students.

On September 18, residents, community leaders, and elders of Gharanij and Al-Bahra called for the reversal of the decision to abolish the Gharanij Educational Complex and for it to remain in operation until an administrative decision regulating its status is issued. They noted that the complex serves dozens of schools and thousands of students and educational staff. According to published data, the complex includes 67 schools operating under both shift-based systems and educational annexes, and serves approximately 20,000 male and female students.

The Al-Bukamal Educational Complex also suspended its administrative and educational activities for the 2026–2027 academic year on September 2, in protest against salary and financial compensation conditions for its employees, amid reports that other complexes in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor are considering similar protest measures.

In light of these developments, residents of the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor are calling for clarification of the principles and criteria underlying decisions to abolish or restructure educational complexes in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor.

ANHA