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Suspension of Education in Hasakah: Amidst the Conflict Between the Government and Self-Administration
Under the influence of political shifts in northeastern Syria, the self-administration has taken control of areas that were previously under the regime's control following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's rule, including the so-called "security squares" in the cities of Hasakah and Qamishli. These changes have led to a near-total paralysis of the educational process in the governorate, with government schools that followed the Ministry of Education's curricula closing down, while only a limited number of private schools remained open, including those affiliated with religious organizations.
These adverse conditions have deprived around 60,000 students of completing their education, creating a situation of uncertainty regarding the consequences. In particular, students preparing for their intermediate and secondary certificates, estimated to number around 25,000, are facing complex challenges due to the lack of an agreement between the Syrian government and the self-administration on the mechanisms for opening registration centers for exams in the self-administration areas.
Despite ongoing negotiations between the two parties, the exchange of harsh accusations regarding negligence and obstruction has yielded unfruitful results, as students are unable to register for exams, threatening the fate of their academic achievements. Additionally, moving to other governorates such as Deir ez-Zor or Damascus to register or take exams poses several obstacles, including difficulties in transportation, high travel and accommodation costs, and the deteriorating economic situation of many students' families.
In response, dozens of parents staged a sit-in on April 27 in front of the UNICEF headquarters in Qamishli to protest the deprivation of their children’s right to take exams in Hasakah governorate. The protesters called on the Ministry of Education of the Syrian government and the Education Board of the self-administration to cooperate to enable students to take their exams.
Abdullah Alyan, a retired teacher from the Qamishli countryside, described the situation, stating, "Not allowing students to take exams in these areas will be a black mark in everyone's history." Meanwhile, Shahnaz Moussa, a mother of two students, said, "The economic situation is very difficult, and we cannot leave young children away from their families."
In this context, Fared Saadoun, a former dean of the Faculty of Arts at Al-Furat University, discussed the implications of the crisis, affirming that it is not just a problem but a disaster threatening the entire community. As the sit-in continued, the self-administration announced that it had extended the registration period to support students and called for the conduction of exams.
The Education Board of the self-administration stated that it is ready to implement this under the supervision of UNICEF but referred the agreement with the Ministry of Education to political bodies for approval. However, no official response has been issued by the ministry, further increasing the suffering of students and their families in Hasakah.
Concerns are rising that an entire generation could lose access to education, which is fundamental for the region's future, in a continuing conflict that threatens to reshape educational opportunities for young people. As the political strife remains ongoing, children and youth are paying the price in a struggle that appears far from resolution.
