Story summary
Syrian Kurds are striving to maintain education in their native Kurdish language as the Syrian government, now led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, reclaims control over areas previously governed independently by Kurdish groups. In a decree issued recently, Damascus has allowed certain subjects such as geography, history, social studies, and philosophy to be taught in Kurdish, but requires sciences and mathematics to be instructed in Arabic. While this move is seen as progress by some, it falls short of the Kurds' goal for a fully Kurdish-language curriculum. The decree comes at a time when Syria's Kurdish-majority regions have been reintegrated into the state following an offensive in January 2024 that saw government forces regain control over these areas previously governed autonomously. Prior to this, under President Bashar al-Assad and his father’s rule, teaching in Kurdish was prohibited due to their Baathist ideology emphasizing Arab nationalism. However, during years of Kurdish self-rule, the use of Kurdish language flourished. Now, as schools implement a new curriculum predominantly in Arabic, students have protested against these changes, highlighting the ongoing tension around cultural and linguistic rights for Syrian Kurds.
Written for “Kurdish Education Syria” on 2026-09-17,
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Syrian Kurds aim to preserve Kurdish schooling as Damascus reasserts authority
QAMISHLI, Syria, Sept 15 -
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Damascus → aim → authority
Syrian Kurds are seeking to preserve schooling in their mother tongue as Damascus reasserts authority over Kurdish regions that governed themselves during years of war, welcoming a decree that allows some subjects to be taught in Kurdish but saying it falls short of their demand for a fully Kurdish-language curriculum.
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it → seek → curriculum
The issue has come to the fore at the start of the first school year since Syria's Kurdish-majority areas were reintegrated into the Syrian state under agreements between Damascus and Kurdish-led authorities.
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areas → come → Damascus
Pupils in Kurdish regions have protested over the rollout of a new curriculum in Arabic.
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Pupils → protest → Arabic
Kurdish was banned in schools under the Assads, who espoused a Baathist ideology rooted in Arab nationalism, but flourished during years of Kurdish self-rule in northern Syria.
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who → ban → Syria
President Bashar al-Assad was ousted in 2024.
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Assad → oust → 2024
Now, Syria's Kurds face a rapidly changing reality after the state under President Ahmed al-Sharaa seized Kurdish-run regions in an offensive in January, paving the way for negotiations on how to merge their security and civilian institutions, with the Kurds trying to preserve as many of their gains as possible.
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Kurds → face → gains
Before the school year, the education ministry issued a decree recognising Kurdish as a national language to be offered in areas where Kurds form a significant part of the population, meeting a longstanding Kurdish demand.
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Kurds → issue → demand
But among Kurds schooled almost entirely in Kurdish since 2012, the decision faces objections because it limits Kurdish language instruction to three sessions a week.
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it → school → sessions
Also, while the decree offered the option for geography, history, social studies and philosophy to be taught in Kurdish, Kurdish officials said sciences and maths would be taught in Arabic under the new arrangements.
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sciences → offer → arrangements
"I have studied Kurdish since the start of my schooling up through 11th grade, and now they are saying they will only allocate three class periods for Kurdish.
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they → study → Kurdish
This is unacceptable," said Suzan Ali, 16.
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Ali → say → ?
"Half the curriculum in Kurdish and the other half in Arabic — we cannot study in Arabic.
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we → study → Arabic
We must study in our own language, because we have studied in Kurdish from the beginning and must continue through university.
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we → study → university
Merva Amo, 18, said she had protested to demand "a return to the previous curriculum where all subjects were taught in Kurdish" and that she would continue demonstrating.
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she → say → Kurdish
The education ministry did not respond to a request for comment.
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ministry → respond → comment
Education Minister Mohammed Abdul Rahman Turko told parliament on Monday there had been two views, one calling for Kurdish language to be studied alongside other subjects, and one calling for the entire curriculum to be translated into Kurdish.
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curriculum → tell → Kurdish
"Translating the curriculum completely into Kurdish, frankly, it's very difficult," Turko said in excerpts of the session posted on social media by news outlet afrin now.
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Turko → translate → afrin
"First, providing teachers for all specialties, and second, how is (the student) going to continue their university studies?
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student → provide → studies
Syria's Kurds are part of an ethnic group that was left stateless when the borders of the modern Middle East emerged from the collapsing Ottoman Empire.
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borders → leave → Empire
Kurdish groups took control of swathes of northern Syria after 2011, building a powerful armed group that fought Islamic State alongside U.S. forces and establishing autonomy they had hoped to preserve.
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they → take → autonomy
But their hand was weakened by the government offensive in January and as Washington urged them to integrate with Damascus.
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Washington → weaken → Damascus
Negotiations have since led to dissolution of the Kurdish-led forces and their merger into the defence ministry.
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Negotiations → lead → ministry
Syrian Kurdish official Ilham Ahmad said the decree was "a good initial step" but fell short of "the demands of our community".
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decree → say → community
"We believe that all subjects should be taught in Kurdish —alongside English, Arabic and other languages — especially in these regions.
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subjects → believe → regions
It is essential for the Kurdish people to learn in their own language, though what we see now is nonetheless a step," she told Reuters.
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she → learn → Reuters
The new constitution must enshrine the right to teach in Kurdish, she said.
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she → enshrine → Kurdish
Syria's Kurds speak Kurmanji, a variety of Kurdish written in a Latin-based script.
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Kurds → speak → script
Kurdish belongs to the Indo-European language family, so is distinct from Arabic.
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Kurdish → belong → Arabic
TEACHER URGES TRANSITION PERIOD
Sharaa has pledged to protect minorities' rights and appointed the head of the dissolved Kurdish-led forces, Mazloum Abdi, as a presidential adviser.
Kurdish was taught secretly under Assad.
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Kurdish → urge → Assad
Teacher Mohamed Ahmed said he anticipated difficulties for pupils only ever taught in Kurdish and urged "a transitional period of a year or two".
"
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he → say → year
We hope things proceed smoothly and easily, and that the region's situation is accepted, especially given the sensitivity surrounding these issues," he said.
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he → hope → issues
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