In the season premiere of the “Syria: Alternative Dialogues” podcast, we explore the current landscape of education in Syria following the fall of Assad.
Guests in this episode:
Massa Mufti – An education researcher and specialist in pedagogy, as well as a feminist activist. She holds a Master’s degree in French Literature from Catholic University in Washington, D.C., and a Master’s in Education Policy and Management from the American University of Beirut. She also completed a Harvard University fellowship focusing on Emergency Education in the Middle East.
Massa is the founder of Sonbola Educational Association in Lebanon (2013-2020), an initiative dedicated to supporting the education of Syrian refugees and training their teachers. She has worked extensively in education policy research with ESCWA and the Syrian Center for Policy Research.
Dr. Oudai Tozan – Director of Academic Programs at the Refugee Studies Center, University of Oxford.A researcher at the University of Cambridge, specializing in higher education.He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge, where his dissertation focused on reforming Syria’s higher education system.
Host: Rabie Nasser – Researcher and co-founder of the Syrian Center for Policy Research.
This episode begins by examining the scale of Syria’s education crisis, where years of war have deprived an entire generation of access to learning. Nearly 50% of children and young people have been left out of school, both within Syria and in refugee-hosting countries like Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan.
The guests discuss the impact of economic instability and resource shortages on the education sector. Many teachers face dire living conditions, which significantly hinder their ability to teach effectively.
The episode also delves into the quality of education in Syria, exploring how the war has led to the politicization and fragmentation of school curricula, creating unequal access to educational content across different regions.
A key discussion point is the outdated teaching methodologies that rely heavily on rote memorization, coupled with poor learning environments and curricula influenced by political agendas.
The conversation highlights alternative education models, including technology-driven learning and distance education, as potential solutions to bridge the widening educational gap. The role of civil society initiatives in rebuilding trust in the education system and providing innovative learning opportunities is also explored.
Finally, the episode discusses the path to education reform in Syria, emphasizing the importance of citizenship-based curricula, critical thinking, and fostering social cohesion. The discussion draws on lessons from other post-conflict nations, examining how Syria can apply these insights to establish a more sustainable and inclusive education system.
Episode`s reference
- Tozan, O. (2023a). The evolution of the Syrian higher education sector 1918-2022: From a tool of independence to a tool of war. Globalisation, Societies and Education, 0(0), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/14767724.2023.2265854
- Tozan, O. (2023b). The impact of the Syrian conflict on the higher education sector in Syria: A systematic review of literature. International Journal of Educational Research Open, 4, 100221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedro.2022.100221
- Tozan, O. (2024). Peeling the multiple layers of inequalities in free higher education policies. Policy Reviews in Higher Education, 0(0), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/23322969.2024.2374708
- Adolescents between sige and hope: Research on the Educational and Social Factors، Leading to Secondary School Dropouts، Among Vulnerable Lebanese and Syrian Refugees
