As the Syrian regime takes control of the areas in southern Syria, parents await the rehabilitation of basic services, especially the education sector, as the majority of schools have been destroyed or suffer from a severe shortage of educational supplies.
Jihad, a former official of an educational institution supported by civil society organizations, said that some organizations had previously tried to improve this sector by working to establish kindergartens and educational and psychological support centers, as well as to rehabilitate some schools and promote advanced teaching techniques.
However, despite strenuous efforts, the Syrian interim government (the opposition) failed to obtain international recognition of secondary diplomas and basic education certificates issued by its schools.
A teacher at a Syrian regime school in Daraa said: “The educational situation in southern Syria has not seen any noticeable improvement, despite the start of the new school year and the regime’s control over the south and its commitment to introduce basic services.”
“None of the schools that have been destroyed or bombarded have been renovated yet,” he added.
The teacher explained that challenges that face the educational situation in southern Syria were reflected in overcrowded classrooms, the absence of logistical supplies and the lack of schools and educational centers, all of which puts great pressure on the students.
Nohad al-Abdallah, a sociologist from Daraa, underscored the problem of children dropping out pf school, despite the regime’s Compulsory Education Law.
“Several conditions combined have caused many students to drop out of school, the most important of which is internal displacement, the targeting of schools, high prices and poor economic conditions, in addition to the need for the children to work to assist their families,” according to Abdallah.
Jamal, a resident of Daraa, said that the financial burdens have not changed from what they were in the past. The prices of school uniforms, stationery supplies and other school equipment have not dropped, but remained the same or even increased.
With the lack of employment opportunities, limited commercial movement, high prices and low salaries, parents face significant challenges that prevent them from meeting all the educational needs of their children.
