The Syrian Future Movement commends the struggle of the students at the University of Health Sciences’ al-Ra’i branch and expresses its full solidarity with them in rejecting the decision to close the branch starting in the 2026-2027 academic year.
The Syrian Future Movement affirms that closing this branch is a misguided decision at this transitional stage, as it deprives hundreds of students of completing their studies at an educational institution with its own unique academic and linguistic character. The university uses Turkish as the language of instruction, alongside advanced scientific curricula, and any forced transfer of students to other universities will result in significant academic losses due to language and curriculum differences, thus wasting the students’ efforts and years of study.
The Syrian Future Movement emphasizes that higher education is a fundamental right for Syrian youth, and that the unique character of any educational institution must be respected, especially if it serves a broad segment of students and provides them with a quality educational opportunity under difficult circumstances. Closing the branch will not solve any problems; rather, it will exacerbate the students’ suffering and weaken opportunities for human development in the region.
Based on its national and future-oriented vision, the Syrian Future Movement recommends the following:
- The immediate reversal of the closure decision and granting the branch the full opportunity to continue as an independent educational institution that maintains its linguistic and academic distinctiveness.
- Postponing any closure decision for a period of no less than two full academic years to allow sufficient time to find sustainable solutions that protect the interests of current and future students.
- Providing the necessary administrative and logistical support to the university to ensure its continued operation with high academic standards.
- Initiating a serious and transparent dialogue between the university administration, the Ministry of Higher Education, and the students to reach solutions that respect the university’s unique characteristics and the students’ best interests.
The Syrian Future Movement affirms that building the future of Syria requires expanding the base of higher education and protecting every available educational opportunity, not diminishing it. It calls upon the relevant authorities to reconsider this decision in a way that serves the future of the students and the nation, and preserves the academic diversity that Syria needs during the reconstruction phase.
