A Nation Rewritten: Controversial Changes to Syria’s School Curricula Stir Outrage

 

A Curriculum Under Fire

The recent changes in the Syrian government’s school curricula have provoked severe criticism. The changes are not just academic adjustments which affect different grades right from the first grade to the twelfth grade. However, they decipher an undesirable paradigm that may soon transform the directions in cultural and education systems in the country.

Historical Figures Erased

It has been scorned by many Syrians when Queen Zenobia and Khawla bint Al-Azwar were excluded from the history syllabus. These figures have often been portrayed as strong and vigourously hardworking in more recent years. That is why they are dismissed as ‘unreal characters,’ and, in this way, the government threatens to turn young learners away from the history of their people.

The Assault on Science

The exclusion of content like evolution and ancient Gods makes the new curriculum even more culpable of ideological thinking. Selective use of “brain evolution” without an accompanying need for critical analysis of the full breadth of scientific articles stifle the ability of students to think. Such exclusion might hamper the learning process of Syria’s future generation including their intellectual discovery.

Radicalizing Patriotism

The modification in the Islamic education system where “defending the homeland” has been changed to “for the sake of God” is a clear transformation that the illiterate radicals do not understand. This shift is associated with extremism that increases the likelihood of religious radicalization at school. Such changes could only make the society splits and create more grounds for conflict.

Consequences regarding the repatriation of the refugees

Education is one of the causes that affect the decision of the million Syrian refugees who live outside their home country to go back home or not. Due to the extremism reflected in the new curriculum, households are sure to be turned off from considering relocation as this will only set Syria’s community and country even further adrift making recovery a tad even more protracted.

The Cost of Ideological Rewriting

Syria’s curriculum change seems to be not only educational transformation but also the political and ideological conflict at the same time. Further, the experience of these changes only serves to underscore the danger of employing education as means of appeal to extremity. Based on the analysis of the research questions, Syria’s future relies on Education that is libertarian, amicable, progressive, and non-terrorist.