The Syrian Future Movement is following the protest organized by a number of private university students in Damascus, demanding the implementation of Administrative Promotion Decree No. 192 of 2025. This decree was issued by the Presidency of the Republic without clearly defining the scope of its application between public and private universities.
We, at the Syrian Future Movement, consider this protest a legitimate expression of a deeper crisis facing the higher education sector in Syria. Academic and living challenges are exacerbated by stifling economic conditions, a lack of equal opportunities, a decline in the quality of education, and a lack of transparency in the implementation of official decisions.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that the situation is described as follows:
- The protesting students are demanding the implementation of the administrative promotion decree for private university students, similar to their colleagues at public universities.
- The administrations of some private universities have refused to implement the decree, citing a lack of clarity in the legal text.
- Instances of harassment and verbal threats against some protesting students have been documented, constituting a violation of the right to peaceful expression guaranteed by the constitution and international law.
The Syrian Future Movement calls on relevant authorities to respect the right to education and the right to peaceful expression, in accordance with international human rights covenants, most notably the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
The Syrian Future Movement calls on international organizations concerned with education and human rights to monitor the academic situation in Syria and provide technical and legal support to students and educational institutions.
The Syrian Future Movement calls on the Ministry of Higher Education to issue a clear and comprehensive official interpretation of the presidential decree, ensuring fairness for all students, regardless of university type. We also call for a review of higher education policies to ensure equal opportunities and enhance trust between students and educational institutions.
The Syrian Future Movement condemns any form of harassment or threat to which the protesting students were subjected. We affirm that peaceful protest is a moral and human right that must not be violated. We also call on private university administrations to demonstrate moral responsibility towards their students and to be partners in finding solutions, not in complicating the crisis.
The Syrian Future Movement recommends the formation of an independent committee of higher education experts to study the effects of administrative promotion on the quality of education and propose mechanisms to ensure a balance between academic fairness and academic standards. We also call for a comprehensive reform of the education system, including curriculum modernization, support for scientific research, and development of university infrastructure.
The Syrian Future Movement stands with Syria’s students in their just demands and believes that education is the cornerstone of building a free, just, and prosperous national future. This can only be achieved through transparent, fair, and scientifically based educational policies.
