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A month into its ascent to power, Syria’s new leadership ignited widespread debate by introducing . While many expressed concerns over politically and religiously motivated alterations to how the country’s history is being documented and taught, others raised questions about the government's priorities.��

Some amendments, particularly the removal of former regime symbols and the old flag, won wide backing. Other changes, however, including omitting historical female figures, like third-century who ruled Palmyra during the Roman era, or historical details of the Ottoman rule in Syria, raised concerns about the timing and political motivations.

At its core, the controversy underscores the challenges Syrians face as they emerge from over five decades under Assad’s Baath party rule.

In response to uproar over the amendments, Syria’s newly-appointed Minister of Education Nazir al-Qadri clarified the amendments were to correct inaccurate information adopted by the Assad regime. In a published by the official news agency SANA, the minister was quoted as saying that the changes shall not go into effect until next school year.

“Our problem is not the internationally approved and known Syrian curriculum, which has graduated hundreds of specialists in all fields, but the introduction of ideas and principles of the defunct regime and the falsification of existing facts, so it will be decided later on the type and amount of necessary modifications,” he said.

Support for the changes

Defending the amendments, former minister of education Darem Tabbaa echoed the current minister’s claim that they are not a complete overhaul of the government and UNESCO-developed curriculum developed in recent years, but rather a few changes based on feedback from experts.

“[The current] curriculum develops students’ learning, critical thinking, analysis and synthesis skills, among others, and is based on international standards that take into account local cultural relevance,” he told ������.

Moreover, Tabbaa called the debate that sprang from the announced changes “healthy — because it deepens understanding, clarifies different opinions, and corrects mistakes.”

However, he emphasised that the discussions ought to remain logical and respectful, without participants rigidly defending their viewpoints.��

The fall of Assad’s regime on December 8, marked by ’s (HTS) Turkey-backed takeover of Damascus, has plunged Syria into a new phase of its long-running conflict.

Locally, various sects and former power players are closely observing the new leadership, while regional and international stakeholders monitor the emerging Islamist government.

Media figure attributed the criticism of the curriculum changes to prejudice against the new leadership. He dismissed accusations of Islamization, asserting that the curriculum revisions involved multiple perspectives and that the ongoing debate is a healthy one that reflects Syrians’ newfound sense of freedom and their ability to critique the government

“We hope this administration will deliver the freedoms Syrians longed for,” he said, adding that the changes introduced were hoped for by the Syrians involved in the revolution.

Criticism and concerns

In an interview with ������, economic researcher Rasha Sirop stated that while she believes that deleting symbols of the former regime is justified, other historical content in the curriculum that is up for removal, such as references to Turkey’s 1916 execution of national movement leaders and Chinese philosophy, are not.��

“It must be noted that the ministry is a caretaker ministry, meaning that this ministry and the government do not have the authority to amend the educational curricula,” argued Sirop. “How can a government whose term will end in less than two months impose its vision on the government that will follow it?” she asked.

Syria is ahead of much-awaited political restructuring. According to comments made by Ahmed Al-Share, the de facto leader who has led HTS in its lightning takeover of power, it can take up to four years for the constitution to be rewritten and parliamentary and presidential elections to take place. It is hoped that the elected legislative and executive authorities will be more representative of the country’s kaleidoscope of sects.

Education expert , a former member of the curriculum review committee, raised concerns about more “pressing” priorities facing the current government.

With nearly , Al-Hussein argued that the government should focus on more immediate issues, such as addressing school dropouts and improving infrastructure.��

"Are these amendments more important than getting children back into school and ensuring that existing schools have basic supplies?" he asked, noting that many schools lack electricity, heating, and sufficient classroom materials.

Sirop agreed. She opined that the Ministry of Education should focus on ensuring the smooth continuation of the educational process and that the ministry must avoid putting students in "unnecessary pitfalls" this academic year.��

She also pointed out the importance of integrating children who have dropped out of school back into the system, while addressing basic educational needs like classroom seating, cleanliness, drinking water and reducing class sizes.

‘It’s too soon’

Al-Hussein expressed that the current government should not be focused on stirring public opinion but rather on uniting Syrians to "discover the future we want to build together." He noted that curricula reflect a state's strategy and vision, and since “Syria hasn't yet agreed on its future direction, it is too early to discuss curriculum amendments.”

While he dismissed the idea of teaching content that praises the former regime as "ridiculous" — given the suffering Syrians endured under it — Al-Hussein suggested that any changes to religious lessons should be handled by technocratic experts who can review the material and provide well-supported recommendations to the public.

“A caretaker government should not stir up public opinion. Rather, we as Syrians must first discover the future that we want to build together because school curriculum usually expresses the state’s strategy, its vision, and how it will work,” explained Al-Hussien.��

“School curricula is a reflection of that in some subjects, and we in Syria have not yet agreed on this matter, because we have an old narrative which the regime has told and detailed. It is therefore too early to talk about amendments to the curricula,” he concluded.

�Ѳ��ɲ��岹�������󲹳���is a freelance Syrian journalist based in Damascus who focuses on environmental and society issues��

This piece was published in collaboration with