At a Glance:

• The Syrian Ministry of Education has designated Kurdish as an elective national language subject across all grade levels.
• Instruction includes three periods of language study and one activity period per week.
• For the first year, students can choose between Arabic or Kurdish for social studies, history, geography, and philosophy.
• Candidates with university degrees or high school diplomas who pass standardized proficiency tests will be recruited to teach.

The Syrian Ministry of Education issued Decree No. 2068/943 on August 27, 2026, setting executive guidelines to integrate Kurdish language instruction into public and private schools. Signed by Education Minister Dr. Muhammad Abdul-Rahman Turko, the measure formalizes Kurdish as a national language within state educational frameworks.

---

Key Statements:

"Stemming from the legislative decree aimed at protecting cultural and linguistic rights, and promoting cultural diversity as a fundamental pillar of national unity..." — Ministerial Decree Preamble.

"Teaching staff will be recruited from qualified candidates who pass standardized written and oral proficiency tests administered by educational authorities." — Article 3 Requirement.

---

Structured Curriculum Rollout

Under Article 2 of the decree, schools located in regions with significant Kurdish populations will offer Kurdish as part of their standard academic track. Students will receive three weekly periods of language instruction, supplementing Arabic and English, along with a dedicated weekly activity period. To accommodate the shift, a temporary one-year provision allows students to take humanities subjects in either Arabic or Kurdish.

Recruitment and Oversight Framework

The National Center for Educational Curriculum Development is mandated to finalize standardized textbooks across all educational tiers. Local education directorates will manage the recruitment of language instructors, prioritizing university degree holders while allowing secondary diploma holders to fill operational gaps subject to written and oral language examinations.

FYI

By establishing legal mechanisms for Kurdish-language study in state schools, Damascus seeks to balance minority linguistic rights with a centralized national curriculum framework. The phased implementation underscores an effort to institutionalize cultural diversity while maintaining standardized educational policy across Syria's public school system.

Dive Deeper: Handpicked Stories for You

Follow Channel8 for continuous updates:

Sipan Hamo: Kurds Have a Role in Syria’s New Phase

Displaced Syrian Kurds Await Return Despite Government Deal

Tom Barrack Says Post-Assad Transition Offers Kurds Best Chance for Lasting Rights in Syria