Education

The number of children in Syria who entered school increased significantly this school year, reaching 5,291,000, compared to 4,125,650 students in 2025, according to the Ministry of Education.

The European Union has started the process to set up a National Erasmus+ Office in Damascus that “will be operational by January 2027,” a spokesperson for the European External Action Service (EEAS) in Syria explained.

The Ministry of Higher Education and Research issued in July a salvo of decisions establishing tens of new graduate programmes and faculties at various private universities across Syria, a few weeks before the start of the new academic year.

The Syrian government is in talks with the Saudi Fund for Development to finalise the transfer of a USD 1.5 billion grant for the ‘Syria Without Camps’ initiative, the Deputy Minister of Disaster and Emergency Management, Ahmad Qzayz, said. 

Last week, the Illicit Gain Combating Committee (IGCC) took control of the Qalamoun Private University after taking over a company owned by Salim Daaboul, a businessman linked to former regime circles. 

The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research issued Decision No. 8 of 2026 (See Official Gazette Issue No. 16), bringing eleven intermediate institutes for Sharia sciences under the supervision of its Supreme Council for Technical Education. They will also be affiliated with the Ministry of Endowments and will start following Damascus’ curriculum.

Azerbaijan, Finland, and Saudi Arabia have recently pledged funding to rehabilitate schools and revamp Syria’s education sector. The education sector has received so far this year USD 32.2 million within the U.N.-coordinated Humanitarian Response Priorities (HRP).

Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa issued three presidential decrees on February 23, mandating the opening of five university faculties in northern Syria.

The Syrian presidency has officially recognised the University of Idlib. According to Decree No. 193, published on  October 2 (see Official Gazette number 36/2025), the Idlib University and its staffing establishment are considered created with effect from August 2, 2015. According to a subsequent decree (Decree No. 194), the University of Shahba Aleppo (not to be confused with the Shahba Private University), located in the town of Al-Dana, in northern Idlib, is to be merged with the University of Idlib.

Turkey’s Council of Higher Education has recently accredited the Free Aleppo University located in A’zaz; with this move Turkey now recognizes the degrees of this university based in northwest Syria.

The report sheds light on the financial, security, and curriculum challenges hindering access to education in Northwest Syria.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a decision this month to open two university-affiliated medical institutions in opposition-held parts of Syria, provoking Damascus to accuse Ankara of carrying out “Turkification” in the country’s north.

Duolingo, an online education company that provides language learning software, has won an unusual exemption from the United States to offer its services in Syria.

Iran and Syria recently signed a memorandum of understanding in the educational field, which, according to the Iranian Minister of Education, should help encourage the spread of the Persian language.

Gaziantep University plans to become the second Turkish university to open faculties in areas under Turkish control in northern Syria.

A Turkish university is opening a faculty in the Euphrates Shield Area, highlighting the increasing influence and long-term commitment of Turkey in the north of Syria.

A Turkish University has announced that it would organize a test to enable students living in the Euphrates Shield Area to apply for enrolment.

Iran is furthering its reach in Syria’s education sector while the Syrian government seems unable to meet its promises to invest in that sector.

As they seek to gain influence and access to Syrian resources, Iran and Russia are also expanding ties with Damascus in the education sector.

A Syrian Christian charity established after the beginning of the uprising has been granted the right to set up a private university in Syria.