Given the social divisions and cultural and psychological distortions that Syria has endured during the years of war, there is a pressing need for a long-term national educational project. This project should not be limited to academic education alone, but should contribute to rebuilding the Syrian individual, restoring relations between the various components of society, and re-establishing the concept of “inclusive citizenship” on stable human and social foundations.
Therefore, we propose the establishment of a new subject called “Community Education.”
This subject is entirely independent of Islamic Education and is in no way a replacement for it. Rather, it differs in function, purpose, and content. Islamic Education focuses on religious, jurisprudential, and doctrinal education within an Islamic framework, while Community Education aims to build national social awareness, enhance understanding of Syrian society in all its diversity, and instill the values of respect, coexistence, cooperation, and inclusive citizenship.
The core of this subject lies in introducing Syrian students, from their earliest years, to the spectrum of Syrian society in all its cultural, social, religious, and regional diversity, in a calm, balanced, and scientific manner that cultivates knowledge instead of fear, and understanding instead of prejudice. A child who grows up ignorant of the diverse components of their homeland is more susceptible to stereotypes and more prone to isolation, anxiety, or misunderstanding. However, a child who is introduced from a young age to the various customs, traditions, lifestyles, and social characteristics of Syrian society will grow up understanding that diversity is not a threat, but rather a natural part of their nation’s fabric.
The proposed curriculum is based on several key themes, including:
- Introducing the various components of Syrian society within a comprehensive national framework.
- Examining social customs and traditions in different Syrian environments.
- Highlighting the shared human and social values among Syrians.
- Establishing the concept of respecting cultural and social distinctiveness.
- Teaching the etiquette of disagreement, dialogue, and acceptance of others.
- Building a concept of citizenship based on mutual respect.
- Combating bullying, sectarianism, hatred, and exclusionary rhetoric.
Promoting a spirit of teamwork and social responsibility. This subject should also be based on a “building on common ground” methodology, focusing on the areas that unite Syrians, while presenting social and cultural differences in a mature and informed manner that helps students understand and interact with them naturally, without conflict, arrogance, or fear.
It is also important that the subject be interactive, not merely didactic, through:
- Joint school activities.
- Cultural visits.
- Classroom discussions.
- Group projects.
- Educational films and stories.
- Introduction to the diverse facets of Syrian folklore.
The ultimate goal is not simply to produce another “textbook,” but to contribute to building a new generation capable of understanding their society, respecting its diversity, and building genuine stability based on knowledge and love, not fear and isolation.
The importance of this subject is amplified today by the return of increasing numbers of Syrian students who have lived abroad for many years, or who were born in countries of refuge and exile after more than fourteen years of war and displacement.
These children and adolescents bring diverse social and cultural experiences and may face difficulties integrating naturally into the Syrian school environment, whether due to differences in dialects, ways of thinking, social customs, or even because of the mutual perceptions formed between those inside and outside Syria during the long years of division.
Therefore, the subject of “Community Education” can play a crucial role in building a psychological, social, and cultural bridge between all Syrian students by establishing a unifying national identity that transcends the effects of geography, displacement, and division.
This subject also helps to:
- Alleviate feelings of alienation and difference among returning children.
- Strengthen their sense of natural belonging to Syrian society.
- Reduce the likelihood of bullying or social isolation within schools.
- Build a common social language between those inside and outside Syria.
- Rediscover Syrian identity in a balanced and contemporary way.
- Transform the diversity of life experiences into a source of cultural and intellectual enrichment within the educational environment.
The Syrian child who grew up in Turkey, Europe, the Gulf, or elsewhere should not be viewed as a stranger to their society, but rather as an integral part of the larger Syrian experience the country has undergone, and as a resource that can be positively harnessed in rebuilding society if nurtured educationally in the right way.
Countries that have succeeded in preserving their national unity have not relied solely on laws and institutions, but have begun with schools and the shaping of a child’s awareness from their earliest years.
Today, Syria needs a profound educational and social project that rebuilds trust among its citizens and establishes a phase where diversity is a source of richness and stability, not a cause of division and tension.
We in the Syrian Future Movement believe that the success of any national project to rebuild the Syrian social fabric cannot be achieved through political rhetoric alone, but requires a long-term educational foundation that begins in schools and with the awareness of the Syrian child from their earliest years.
Therefore, we recommend studying the introduction of “Community Education” as an independent subject within the modern Syrian curriculum, concerned with building community awareness, enhancing understanding of Syrian diversity, and instilling the values of respect, cooperation, and inclusive citizenship.
We also propose that this material be accompanied by a comprehensive national project that includes:
- Developing a progressive, scientific curriculum suitable for different age groups.
- Writing textbooks that respect Syrian particularities and cultural and social diversity.
- Creating modern, interactive content based on dialogue, activities, and practical experiences.
- Developing training programs for educational staff.
- Training a select group of young men and women capable of leading this project within schools and educational institutions.
- Establishing educational and community workshops that promote a culture of understanding and acceptance of others.
- Collaborating with specialists in sociology and other fields. For the sake of self, education, and national culture.
The Syrian Future Movement affirms its readiness to contribute to:
- Developing this curriculum and shaping its intellectual and educational vision.
- Providing implementation proposals related to it.
- Participating in training young and educational personnel capable of transforming this idea into an effective national project within Syrian schools.
We in the Syrian Future Movement can also contribute to forming research and advisory teams comprising academics, educators, and specialists from various Syrian communities to ensure the production of balanced, modern, and inclusive material that elevates the status of the Syrian individual, respects their diversity, and builds upon the commonalities that unite them.
We believe that building true stability begins not only with politics, but also with cultivating a new social mindset that learns from childhood that difference does not equate to enmity, and that diversity is not a threat, but rather one of the elements of Syrian society’s strength and cultural richness.
