Syrian Textbook Curriculum Report Sparks Controversy and Parliamentary Debate
A report by the IMPACT-se institute on new Syrian school textbooks has sparked widespread debate. Authored by Israeli researchers, the study highlights a shift toward a conservative Sunni-Arab identity, drawing responses from the Syrian education ministry and parliament.
A comprehensive report published by the international research and policy institute IMPACT-se regarding Syrian school textbooks has sparked widespread public debate and reactions from the Syrian Ministry of Education and parliament. The report, titled "The New Education Under Al-Sharaa: A Review of the National Curriculum in Syrian Schools, 2025-2026," was authored by Israeli researchers Dr. Yonatan Negev, Matan Percikov, and Eitan Shalev. It examines 130 textbooks across the Syrian national curriculum for the first year under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, comparing them with previous editions from the Assad era.
According to the findings, the curriculum is undergoing a profound ideological transformation centered on a Sunni Muslim-Arab identity framework. The study highlights that the textbooks marginalize religious and ethnic minorities, reject gender equality, and restrict women's roles in society. Furthermore, the report notes that the materials normalize violent conflict, omit historical peace agreements with Israel, present Jews through anti-Semitic tropes, and frame jihad and martyrdom as core ideals. The research quickly gained traction online after being shared by exiled Syrian journalist Mohammad al-Saloum, who initially posted textbook comparisons—such as the digital addition of hijabs to female figures—without immediately citing the IMPACT-se source.
The widespread circulation of the study prompted an official response from the Syrian Ministry of Education, which defended the curriculum as inclusive and representative of societal diversity, while announcing plans for future educational reforms. Concurrently, several Syrian parliamentarians acknowledged public concerns, pledging to review portions of the curriculum lacking a solid scientific or pedagogical foundation. Arik Agassi, Deputy CEO and Director of International Partnerships at IMPACT-se, noted that the intense regional resonance underscores the critical role education plays in shaping the future of societies in the Middle East.
