 "Syria overhauls school curriculum to remove all Assad references")
Syria’s education minister on Thursday defended the interim government’s decision to alter the school curriculum that was announced this week. The changes invited criticism from activists who denounced them as “extremist” and potentially harmful to religious minorities.
Education Minister Nazir al-Qadri, in a statement shared on Telegram, said the changes were only meant to scrap “glorifying” references to the deposed president and correct misinterpretations of the Quran, Islam’s holy book.
“The curricula in all Syrian schools will remain as is until specialised committees are formed to review and audit” them, he said.
“We have only ordered the deletion of parts glorifying the defunct Assad regime, and we have adopted pictures of the Syrian Revolution flag instead of the defunct regime flag,” Qadri said.
What are the changes?
The Syrian education ministry will make big changes to textbooks that seek to affect students at all educational levels. The government will amend subjects like history and religious studies that “explain the Quran in the wrong way.”
The changes include scrapping poetry relating to women and love and references to “Gods” in ancient history courses, and interpreting a Quranic verse about those who had angered God and strayed as referring to “Jews and Nasara”, a derogatory term for Christians.
The administration has also removed Syria’s national anthem from the textbooks saying that it was the “Assad regime’s anthem.”
The nationalistic phrase “to sacrifice one’s life in defence of his homeland” has been replaced with the Islamist “to sacrifice one’s life for the sake of Allah”.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsAdditionally, words like “brutal” referring to the Ottoman Empire’s rule will also be removed from books. Images and references related to Assad and his family will be removed or reworded.
Changes spark outrage
Activist and journalist Shiyar Khaleal lambasted the changes in a Facebook post, warning that “education based on extremist ideologies may shape individuals whose ideas threaten regional and international security”.
“Changing the curriculum under the supervision of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham is not just an educational danger, but a long-term threat to the social fabric and future of Syria,” said Khaleal.
Journalist Ziad Haidar described the changes as “educational executions” in a Facebook post, warning that “specific religious groups have been targeted”.
With inputs from AFP
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