Northern Syria – September 2025
Crisis in the Education Sector
The ongoing crisis in the educational sector in the liberated areas of northern Syria highlights a painful reality that goes beyond administrative shortcomings — it strikes at the dignity and status of teachers in a society that could not have endured without their resilience.
From Azaz and Al-Bab to Jarabulus, Marea, and Afrin, these cities and villages have never been mere dots on the map. They are living arenas of struggle, where the price of freedom and dignity was paid in full. At the centre of this struggle stood the teacher: in tents, in destroyed schools, and in frontline classrooms under bombardment, striving to prevent an entire generation from falling into ignorance, extremism, or despair.
Salaries Suspended, Silence from the Authorities
More than fourteen years after their sacrifices began, teachers are now facing an uncertain fate. Salaries, once provided through the Turkish side, have been suspended for nearly two months. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education of the Syrian Interim Government remains silent — offering no official statement, no timeline for payment, and no explanation to teachers who are enduring harsh living conditions.
According to informed sources, the Turkish side has already submitted files to integrate teachers into the institutions of the Syrian Interim Government and secure their positions. However, the process has stalled in ministry offices, turning into a clear case of administrative neglect.
Voices of Teachers and Activists
Teachers are once again raising their voices — not only to demand their salaries, but to reclaim their role and mission.
“I taught my students not to submit to injustice, and now they ask me to accept humiliation and be treated as a burden. We preserved education when state institutions collapsed — how can our resilience be rewarded with neglect?”
— Teacher from northern rural Aleppo
Activists have launched an online campaign under the hashtags:
#Voice_of_the_Teacher #Teacher_is_a_Red_Line #Integrate_Northern_Syria_Teachers
reminding the world that education cannot become a bargaining chip or a casualty of administrative chaos.
Clear and Legitimate Demands
Teachers are calling for urgent action:
- Immediate payment of overdue salaries
- Issuance of an official statement clarifying the teachers’ situation
- Recognition of education as a national priority, not a marginal issue
To continue marginalising teachers after all their sacrifices is not merely an institutional failure — it is a betrayal of a revolutionary journey that has lasted more than a decade. The future of education in northern Syria now depends on a decision, a voice, and a responsible stance.
Who Is Behind the Marginalisation?
The pressing question remains: who is responsible for this neglect, particularly in light of the reappearance of former human rights violators from the collapsed Assad regime and the silence surrounding their return?
International, regional, and local organisations have already condemned the Ministry of Education’s marginalisation of teachers in northern Syria. Full reports are currently being prepared on the reality of education in Syria.
✍️ Reported:
Ahmed Mowas
IHRC Journalist
