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The Wall Street Journal published an article on the educational guidelines promulgated by the Syrian Department of Education that caused concern about the country’s policy.

While it is understandable that the Baathist guidelines of the Assads be excised from the textbooks of the Syrian schools, the proposed changes omit basic historical facts that are part and parcel of the Syrian cultural heritage.

The changes included replacing phrases such as “sacrifice one’s life in defense of his homeland” with “sacrifice one’s life for the sake of Allah (God)” in religious textbooks—based on a conservative interpretation of verses in the Quran. The phrases “path of goodness” and “those who have gone astray” were replaced by “Islamic path” and “Jews and Christians.”

“Sacrifice one’s life for the sake of Allah (God)” has a Qur’anic connotation; it reminds me of “Fi Sabeel Allah.” “Path of goodness” is most likely from the Qur’anic: “Al Sirat al-Mustaqim.” Because “Those who have gone astray” are identified as Jews and Christians, students would inevitably develop a prejudice against Jews and Christians.

It’s astonishing, if not utter prejudice, to remove Queen Zenobia from the textbooks. I remember, as one who grew up in Syria, how proud we were to learn about a heroine who fought Roman imperialism! It incentivized us to resist French colonialism (1920-1946.)

Both Beirut and Damascus have Sahat al-Shuhada (Martyr’s Square) to honor the Lebanese and Syrian nationalists who were hanged in public on the 6th of May 1916. That was ordered by Governor Jamal Pasha (called in Arabic Al-Jazzar (the Butcher.) It’s incomprehensible how the new Syrian authorities could ignore the memory of our national heroes!

The WSJ article ended with this information:

“[Some Syrians] expressed concerns on social media about the Islamist-led government rushing to amend the country’s textbooks without input from the rest of the society. Some Syrians have called for nationwide protests and the dismissal of the education minister.

“Mar Boutros Qassis, the archbishop of the Syriac Orthodox Church in Aleppo, said there have been changes related to the Assad regime…which are understandable; however, there have also been amendments that are based on the Islamic ideology of society and education,” he added.

“Hasan Abu Hanieh, an Amman-based expert on Islamic groups, said Syria’s curriculum is likely to have an Islamic influence under the new government. He said similar changes have taken place in Idlib schools under HTS, especially in social sciences, humanities and religious education. The shift toward a more Islamic nature is inevitable, though the extent of these changes remains unclear.”

Two Evaluations of the Syrian Government’s Guidelines for Education

Sami Aldeeb, a Syrian scholar, strongly critiqued the new Syrian government’s proposed education guidelines in The Catastrophic Changes in the Syrian Educational Curriculum.

ARABIC PROGRAM ON YOUTUBE BBC News عربي on January 5:

WHAT CHRISTIANS EXPECT FROM THE NEW SYRIAN AUTHORITY

بلا قيود للأم آغنيس: ما الذي يطلبه المسيحيون من السلطة الجديدة في سوريا؟

The moderator interviewed a Syrian Nun, Mother Agnes, on the Christians’ expectations from the new Syrian government.

She shared lucidly and quietly her concerns about the educational materials proposed by the Syrian government, pointing to the curriculum’s Islamist features.

Sunni Muslim viewers hurled harsh comments at her, manifesting a searing hatred for Mother Agnes and Syrian Christians, charging them with staying silent during Assads’ atrocities and even collaboration with the Assads!