Curriculum changes by new Syrian rulers spark backlash

Syria's regime has announced sweeping changes to the national school curriculum, triggering concerns about "Islamisation".

- NAMITA SINGH

Critics fear the changes, including an increased focus on Islam and the removal of content related to the ousted Bashar al-Assad regime, will be divisive and erode the country’s diverse historical and cultural identity. The changes, first posted on the Ministry of Education’s Facebook page, include replacing the phrase “defending the nation” with “defending Allah” and removing references to pre-Islamic gods.

The curriculum overhaul also removes the big bang theory and evolution from science books, and edits history and philosophy subjects to exclude topics like Chinese philosophical thought and Ottoman rule, which is now being described as “brutal” in the context of Syria’s past. Another controversial shift is the elimination of the subject of national education, which promoted the Baath Party’s ideology under Mr Assad. It will be replaced by Islamic or Christian religious education.