The Syrian Future Movement, as a national political entity operating according to a strategic vision for the future of Syria based on the principles of justice, citizenship, and institutionalism, issues this statement in light of the exceptional circumstances facing the education sector in northern Syria.
In accordance with its fundamental principles, which place education and the rights of its workers at the heart of national priorities, the Syrian Future Movement affirms that the ongoing teachers’ strike, which began last Sunday and continues to this day, is a serious indicator of the depth of the structural crisis plaguing the education sector.
The Syrian Future Movement emphasizes that the current crisis is not a recent development, but rather the cumulative result of policies and procedures that have disregarded the fundamental rights of the teaching staff.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that the Ministry of Education’s disregard for the crisis and its failure to mobilize to address it through emergency meetings or even by issuing a clarifying statement constitutes a clear breach of its administrative and moral responsibility.
In this regard, the Syrian Future Movement analyzes the situation on the ground through the following points:
First, the current educational catastrophe:
- The closure of more than a thousand educational institutions in the Idlib and Aleppo countryside governorates.
- The complete disruption of education for tens of thousands of students.
- The disruption of curricula and the threat to the educational future of entire generations.
Second, the root causes of the crisis:
- A blatant and unjustified collapse in salaries, with teachers in the northern Aleppo countryside earning no more than ninety-five dollars per month, while their counterparts in Idlib earn up to one hundred and fifty dollars.
- Job insecurity and the continuation of the unfair system of temporary contracts.
- The denial of basic employment rights to teachers, such as summer pay and paid leave.
Third, the logic of institutional neglect:
- The complete absence of any serious initiatives from the Ministry of Education to resolve the crisis.
- The adoption of a language of threats and punishment through recording teacher absences and warning of termination.
- The breakdown of dialogue channels and the lack of political will for just solutions.
The Syrian Future Movement bases its vision on relevant international experiences, recalling that many countries that faced similar crises in the education sector were able to overcome them through specific mechanisms.
UNESCO studies also indicate that countries that invested in stabilizing their teaching staff and improving their working conditions achieved significant leaps in the quality of education, especially in post-conflict areas.
The Syrian Future Movement presents its vision for addressing the crisis through the following points:
First, Urgent Measures (within 72 hours):
- We demand that the Ministry of Education immediately announce the cessation of all punitive measures against striking teachers.
- We propose the formation of an emergency national dialogue committee comprising representatives from the Ministry, teachers, educational experts, and civil society organizations.
- We call for a joint press conference to outline the beginning of a serious path toward a solution.
Second, Medium-Term Plan (monthly):
We recommend approving an emergency salary increase of no less than forty percent as an initial step.
We emphasize the necessity of immediately initiating the process of standardizing salaries across different regions.
We emphasize the importance of approving a system for the permanent employment of teaching staff within a maximum period of three months, taking into account the circumstances of the transitional phase and awaiting the establishment of institutions, primarily the upcoming parliament, to approve and legislate these decisions.
We propose designing a performance- and quality-based incentive system to be implemented within six months.
Third Axis: Monitoring and Follow-up Mechanisms:
The Syrian Future Movement insists on the necessity of forming an independent oversight body for the education crisis, comprising representatives from international organizations (UNICEF, UNESCO), independent Syrian educational experts, and representatives from teachers’ unions and parents’ associations.
We propose that this body be tasked with monitoring the implementation of agreements and submitting periodic public reports.
Fourth Axis: Proposed Funding Alternatives:
We call for redirecting a portion of international grants allocated to education towards improving salaries.
We propose establishing a national education fund under international auspices and with support from Syrian expatriates.
We recommend adopting conditional funding programs that link financial support to improving teachers’ conditions and the quality of education.
The Syrian Future Movement issues the following recommendations:
1- To the Ministry of Education:
Consider the education crisis a top national priority requiring full mobilization.
Adopt the proposals contained in this statement as a framework for dialogue and a solution.
2- To the teaching staff:
The Syrian Future Movement expresses its full solidarity with your just and legitimate demands.
Appreciates the immense sacrifices you are making for the dignity of the profession.
3- To the international community:
We appeal to international organizations and donor agencies to intervene urgently to help achieve a just solution.
We call for linking educational aid to improving teachers’ conditions and the quality of education.
4- To the Syrian public:
We urge all segments of the Syrian people to stand with the cause of education.
We affirm that the battle for the dignity of teachers is the battle for the future of all of Syria.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that the current crisis is a true test of our will for reform and our ability to build the future.
Ignoring the suffering of those who lay the foundations for building minds simply means abandoning the future. The time has come to transform this hardship into a blessing, and this crisis into an opportunity for genuine reform, beginning with doing justice to teachers, who are the cornerstone of any true educational renaissance.
The Syrian Future Movement dedicates all its resources and vision to serving this noble national goal.
