Turkish removed from elective language list in Syria: Turkmen call for a decree

The removal of Turkish from the elective language category in Syria and its replacement with French has sparked controversy. Turkmen representatives, who reacted to the decision, stated that the implementation would cause serious grievances, especially for Syrian students who have received their education in Turkey.

In response to the reactions, the Syrian Ministry of National Education stated that the new curriculum was not ready for the current academic term, and therefore, the curriculum applied during the Assad era is being continued.

According to a report by Türkiye Gazetesi, it was reported that Turkmen members of parliament, the Syrian Turkmen Assembly, and Turkmen non-governmental organizations have initiated efforts before the Syrian Ministry of National Education and the Presidency to have Turkish included in the curriculum as an elective language again. It was also stated that the Turkish Embassy in Damascus has been holding talks with the relevant authorities.

DEMAND FOR A DECREE FOR TURKISH

It was stated that the Syrian Turkmen Assembly prepared an education report following the decision and presented it to ministry officials. Hüseyin İsa, the Aleppo representative of the assembly, said that the implementation would affect not only Turkmens but hundreds of thousands of students across Syria. İsa stated, "Most of these children received their primary, secondary, and higher education in Turkey. Now, these students returning to Syria, regardless of their level, will be forced to reset their Turkish language proficiency."

Recalling the regulation that recognizes Kurdish as an elective language in official and private schools in regions where Kurdish citizens live in high numbers, Turkmen representatives requested that a similar decree be prepared for Turkish.

The reasons for the demand include the integration problems experienced by Syrian students who studied in Turkey during their return process and the continuity of the Turkish education model applied in the Olive Branch, Euphrates Shield, and Peace Spring regions since 2017.

According to the data provided, 390 thousand Syrian students were taught by 5 thousand 555 Turkish teachers in past years. It is stated that more than 600 thousand Syrian refugees have returned to their country from Turkey in the 2024-2026 period.

Turkmens and families whose children studied in Turkey are demanding that Turkish be included as an elective language in the new curriculum while maintaining the constitutional provision that Arabic is the official language. It is stated that the issue has also been addressed at the level of Syrian President Ahmed Shara and that a solution is expected in the near future.