Syria’s education minister attempted to downplay the recent curriculum changes announced by the new government, after critics raised alarms over their potential to marginalize religious minorities and promote extremist ideologies. The revisions, revealed by the interim government’s education ministry on Facebook, come just weeks after the ousting of Bashar al-Assad’s regime by forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
The changes include the removal of poetry related to women and love, along with the national anthem, which the ministry deemed a symbol of the former regime. Additionally, the phrase “to sacrifice one’s life in defence of his homeland” was replaced with “to sacrifice one’s life for the sake of Allah,” prompting widespread backlash.
In an attempt to ease concerns, Education Minister Nazir al-Qadri explained that the changes were intended to eliminate glorification of Assad’s rule and to correct perceived misinterpretations of the Quran. He assured that the overall curriculum would remain unchanged until specialized committees could review it.
Despite these reassurances, the alterations have provoked significant criticism on social media, with many activists, like journalist Shiyar Khaleal, warning that such a curriculum could foster extremist views that pose a broader security threat. As Syria’s new leadership strives to rebuild institutions after decades of Assad family rule, some fear the changes could unravel the social fabric and destabilize the country’s future. The debate continues to rage over whether these amendments are a necessary step or a dangerous overreach.
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