Syrian textbooks show pan-Arab content replaced by Islamist ideology, IMPACT-se finds
This Islamization of knowledge extends deeply across subjects, targeting foundational scientific theories like evolution, the Big Bang, and biological development.
An extensive examination of 130 Syrian school textbooks, compiled under the rule of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, reveals a dramatic shift from secular and pan-Arabist education to a politically Islamist curriculum. The study, titled "The New Syria: Education Under al-Sharaa: Review of Syria’s National School Curriculum, 2025–2026," conducted by the Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-se), scrutinized thousands of pages from Grades 1-12.
The researchers compared current textbooks with versions from 2017-2018 or 2011-2012, highlighting the transformation in how national identity is portrayed. Secular Syrian patriotism and pan-Arab nationalism have been replaced by broader Islamic and religious constructs, where local loyalty to the nation is subordinate to the global Muslim community.
Historical narratives have been altered, portraying events such as the Great Arab Revolt of 1916-1918 as a rebellion against the Ottoman State rather than a popular movement for liberation. Scientific theories like evolution, the Big Bang, and biological development have been heavily edited or removed, with natural phenomena attributed to divine creation.
The curriculum emphasizes armed struggle and self-sacrifice, elevating militant figures and romanticizing Palestinian armed resistance. Minority ethnic and religious groups are marginalized, with Kurds, Turkmen, and Druze populations nearly absent, and historical figures of these backgrounds stripped of their ethnic identities. Sectarian divisions, including the delegitimization of the Fatimid Caliphate and the sidelining of Alawite leadership, are reinforced.
Jewish communities are portrayed through traditional theological grievances, with centuries of local Jewish history erased. Israel is consistently referred to as the "enemy," omitted from regional maps, and military operations are likened to Nazi crimes. Gender roles have shifted toward traditional constraints, diminishing women's public visibility and rights, and illustrations of women have been altered to reflect stricter Islamic dress codes.
The Assad family legacy was systematically eliminated, and the 2011 civil war and the 2024 uprising are presented as morally righteous restorations of authentic Islamic-Arab rule. IMPACT-se CEO Marcus Sheff emphasized the rare opportunity post-Assad to revamp the education system based on inclusion and tolerance, warning that the current textbooks show a concerning shift away from peaceful coexistence.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
