New Syrian regime’s school curriculum changes spark backlash Critics fear increased focus on Islam and removal of content related to Bashar al-Assad regime will erode country’s diverse historical and cultural identity.
The changes, which affect children aged 6 to 18, are aimed at replacing content seen as glorifying the Assad government, but the introduction of more religious teaching has led to strong reactions, particularly on social media.
The curriculum overhaul also removes the Big Bang theory and evolution from science books, and edits history and philosophy subjects to exclude topics like Chinese philosophical thought and Ottoman rule, which is now being described as “brutal” in the context of Syria’s past.
The changes, first posted on the Ministry of Education’s Facebook page, include replacing the phrase “defending the nation” with “defending Allah” and removing references to pre-Islamic gods.
Syria’s new regime has announced sweeping changes to the national school curriculum, triggering concerns about “Islamisation”.
