COMMON ANALYSIS
Last update: April 2024

COI summary

Article 29 of the Constitution of the Syrian Arab Republic stipulates that education is ‘a right guaranteed by the state, and it is free at all levels’ and that it ‘shall be compulsory until the end of basic education state’. Education is mandatory up to the 9th grade (between the ages of 6 and 15), which comprises six years of primary school and three years of lower level secondary school [Damascus 2020, 3.6, p. 32]. For a child to be enrolled in formal education and to register for national exams, civil documentation is required [Damascus 2022, 2.6, p. 32; see also 4.12.6. Lack of documentation].

The GoS is the main provider of education in most areas of Syria, with the support of international NGOs and UN agencies in some areas. Schools providing primary and secondary education, including UNRWA and private schools, are under the supervision of the Syrian Ministry of Education. Public primary and secondary school is free and one source reported that ‘no child is denied access based on his or her area of origin or ethnic background’. In some areas of the northeast of Syria, the ‘self-administration’ provides most education, such as in Raqqa and parts of Deir Ez-Zor, Aleppo, and Hasaka [Damascus 2020, 3.6, p. 34-35]. Because they are based on the Kurdish curriculum instead of the GoS’ school curriculum, Kurdish graduation certificates are not recognised in other parts of the country, therefore limiting the access of pupils to higher education [Targeting 2022, 5.2.1, p. 62].

The conflict caused a decline in access to education. Sources stated that IDP children would be facing problems in accessing education, and the same was reported for children living in northern Idlib. In arrival locations, absorption capacity was overstretched for both IDP and host communities [Targeting 2020, 12.3, pp. 95-96]. Moreover, Syrian girls and women were denied access to education because of the harmful attitudes and customs (e.g. child marriage) exacerbated by the conflict. Movement restrictions have also affected the access to education for girls in Syria [Situation of women, 1.2.8, p. 39].

The devastating impact of the prolonged conflict, the economic constraints and widespread poverty across the country are factors hindering access to education as the children are compelled to work to support their households. In 2023, UNICEF reported on the increase in the number of children engaged in child labour and child marriage. It assessed that 2.4 million children were out of school and that another 1.6 million children were at risk of dropping out. [Country Focus 2023, 1.4, p. 41]

Children with disabilities experience additional barriers to education due to restriction of movement, lack of tailored learning programmes and proper educational facilities. [Country Focus 2023, 1.4, p. 43]

Moreover, one in three schools in Syria were reportedly no longer used for educational purposes as they have been ‘destroyed, damaged, continue to shelter displaced families or are being used for military purposes’. For the year 2022, the UN verified 13 attacks on schools resulting from ground shelling, air strikes and live ammunition, which were mainly attributed to GoS and affiliated forces and unidentified perpetrators. Schools were also being used for military purposes, particularly by the YPG/YPJ. No confirmed attacks on educational facilities were reported between January and May 2023. [Country Focus 2023, 1.4, p. 42]

In north-western Syria, the devastating earthquakes of February 2023 also resulted in massive damage to school infrastructure. It was estimated that 54 % of schools and 37 % of teaching and learning spaces were affected by the earthquake in that area. [Country Focus 2023, 1.4, p. 43]

Conclusions and guidance