The Minister of Education in Syria confirmed that the education sector is ready to start the new school year and receive more than four million students. Yet the minister did not confirm that schools will have full electricity and fuel supplies, in light of the unjust sanctions imposed on the country, which have caused energy shortages.
In an interview with al-Watan, Taba added: “We try every year to bring more schools into the education system in Syria after its reconstruction, especially in the areas that have witnessed violence and war.” Taba indicated that work is being done to reduce the dropout rate, which reached 22 percent in recent years. These efforts have involved enrolling more students in school and trying to compensate for educational shortfalls through Curriculum B and distance learning.
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“I can’t make [school uniforms] mandatory, because there are families that can’t provide a single shirt for their student. Accordingly, we need to be clear on this point. We have given school principals the freedom to adapt to this reality in accordance with the local circumstances of each school,” Taha said.
“We are now training teachers in psychosocial support, which depends on breaking the barrier imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. At present, many students need more social interaction due to the COVID-19 lockdowns and the interactions they missed during them.”
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
