Age-Wise Education System in Syria (2025 Guide for Parents & Students)

Syria’s education system was once a well-structured and largely accessible framework, offering free and compulsory basic education and a diversified path through secondary and higher education. Prior to the conflict in 2011, enrollment rates were high, literacy was improving, and the government had begun expanding access to vocational and private education.

However, the ongoing war has devastated the sector—millions of children are now out of school, infrastructure is heavily damaged, teacher shortages persist, and national education standards are fractured by political divisions. Despite its solid foundation, the Syrian education system now faces a severe crisis marked by declining enrollment, learning loss, and a generation at risk, necessitating urgent and sustained global support.

Education in Syria: A Comprehensive Overview of Structure and Impact

Syria’s education system, prior to the onset of the conflict in 2011, was a robust and highly structured framework aimed at providing widespread access to learning. While the conflict has severely impacted its functionality and reach, understanding its foundational design, coupled with available data, offers crucial insights into the challenges and aspirations for education in the nation.

Official Structure of Age-Wise Education

The Syrian education system is traditionally organized into several stages, progressing with the student’s age:

1. Pre-primary Education (Kindergarten)

Age: 4 to 5 years

Duration: 1–2 years

Compulsory: No

Notes: This stage is primarily private, focusing on preparing children for the foundational years of primary schooling. In 1990, only 5% of children aged 3-5 were enrolled, increasing to 7.8% by 2000. By 2004, the number of kindergartens had risen from 1,096 to 1,475.

2. Basic Education (Compulsory and Free)

This stage is the cornerstone of the Syrian education system, guaranteeing free and compulsory schooling for all children. It is divided into two cycles:

Cycle 1 (Grades 1–6)

• Age: 6 to 12 years
• Duration: 6 years
• Subjects: A broad curriculum including Arabic, mathematics, sciences, religion, art, and physical education.
• Pre-conflict Enrollment (2009-2010): An impressive 99.5% enrollment rate in basic education. The number of basic education schools increased from 15,693 in 2006 to 17,120 in 2010, with student enrollment rising from 4,297,580 to 4,661,872. The gross enrollment rate in primary education was 104.3% in 2000, steadily rising to about 126.24% in 2007.

Cycle 2 (Grades 7–9)

• Age: 12 to 15 years
• Duration: 3 years
• Certification: At the culmination of this cycle, students undertake a national examination to obtain the Basic Education Certificate. The gross enrollment rate at the lower secondary level reached 95.3% in the early 2000s.

3. Secondary Education

Age: 15 to 18 years

Duration: 3 years

Tracks: Students specialize based on their performance in the Basic Education Certificate exam and their interests:

• General Secondary Education (Academic): Further divided into:
  • Scientific Stream: Focuses on scientific and mathematical subjects.
  • Literary Stream: Emphasizes humanities, languages, and social sciences.
• Technical/Vocational Secondary Education: Offers practical training in various fields such as industrial, commercial, agricultural, or other vocational specializations. The government aimed to increase TVET enrollment in the 1990s, with a target of 40% of lower secondary graduates enrolling in vocational schools by 2000.

Certification: The Baccalaureate Exam (Al-Shahada Al-Thanawiya) is taken at the end of secondary education, which is crucial for determining eligibility for higher education. In 2007, the secondary gross enrollment rate stood at 72%, higher than previous years and one percentage point higher than the 2007 MENA regional average.

4. Higher Education

Age: 18+ years

Institutions: Includes both public (generally free or symbolic fee) and private universities. The Syrian government authorized privatization of higher education in 2001, leading to 20 private universities alongside seven public universities.

Duration:

• Bachelor’s degree: Typically 4–6 years, depending on the field of study.
• Master’s: 2 years
• PhD: 3+ years

Major Universities: Key institutions include the University of Damascus, University of Aleppo, Tishreen University, and Al-Baath University. In 2007, approximately 2.3 million students were enrolled in tertiary education. By the 2012/2013 academic year, there were around 659,394 students in public and private higher education.

Oversight and Pre-Conflict Context

Ministry of Education: Responsible for overseeing basic and secondary education across the country.

Ministry of Higher Education: Manages universities and technical institutes.

Literacy: Before 2011, Syria’s adult literacy rate was estimated at 83% overall, with 74% for women, which was relatively high in the Arab world. The young adult literacy rate (aged 15-24) exceeded 95%. In 2015, overall literacy was reported at 86.4% (91.7% male, 81% female).

Public vs. Private: Prior to the conflict, public schools dominated basic education (97%) and secondary education (94%).

Impact of the Syrian Conflict on Education (Post-2011)

The protracted conflict has had a devastating and widespread impact on all aspects of the Syrian education system, reversing decades of progress:

Out-of-School Children: The number of out-of-school children has dramatically increased. By early 2024, UNICEF estimated that 2.4 million children were out of school from a total of 5.52 million school-age children in Syria. In 2015, an estimated 2 million Syrian children were out of school, and by 2020, 2.5 million children aged 5-17 were out of school.

Enrollment Decline:

Primary school enrollment sharply declined to 51% between 2014 and 2018 (the most intense period of conflict), rebounding to 70-80% more recently, but still significantly lower than the 117% recorded in 2012.

Secondary school enrollment plummeted from 76% to 38% over the same period, indicating a severe lack of secondary education for most Syrian adolescents.

As of 2023, only 40% of students (120,000 children) are projected to graduate with a secondary certificate, a significant drop from 2014 when half of students completed secondary education. This is projected to fall further to 25% by 2032.

Infrastructure Damage: The conflict has severely damaged or destroyed thousands of schools. In 2015, approximately 5,000 schools were unusable. As of 2023, only two-thirds of the country’s 19,663 schools are still operating. Over 7,000 schools have been damaged or destroyed.

Teacher Availability and Quality: Over 150,000 education personnel have left the formal system. Many remaining teachers are insufficiently qualified, and teacher availability remains a significant challenge, particularly in conflict-affected regions.

Learning Loss: Assessments in 2017 indicated that children who remained in Syria were up to six years behind their global peers in educational attainment. In 2015, an assessment in Idlib found that 79% of 4th-6th graders could not read at a 2nd-grade level, and 71% could not complete a 2nd-grade math problem.

Funding Cuts: The share of the national budget allocated to education dramatically fell from 7.1% in 2011 to 3.6% in 2022, representing a 78% decrease in real terms.

Displacement: Mass displacement, both internal and external (refugees), has disrupted educational access for millions of children. In 2015, there were an estimated 1.3 million school-age Syrian refugees.

Curriculum Challenges: The conflict has led to the emergence of different curricula in various areas controlled by different factions, complicating national reintegration efforts. For instance, in HTS-controlled areas, a modified pre-2011 curriculum is used, excluding content related to the Baath regime.

Psychosocial Impact: Children attending school often face overcrowded classrooms and carry the psychological scars of traumatic experiences. Many children require psychosocial support.

The education system in Syria, once a model of widespread access, is now grappling with the profound consequences of a prolonged crisis. While the foundational structure remains, its practical implementation and effectiveness are severely hampered, creating a “lost generation” at risk and highlighting the urgent need for sustained humanitarian and developmental interventions.

FAQs on Age-wise Education System in Syria

What was the structure of Syria’s education system before the conflict?
Syria’s education system was organized into pre-primary, basic (Grades 1–9), secondary (Grades 10–12), and higher education, with compulsory and free basic education.

At what age do children start school in Syria?
Children in Syria typically start formal schooling at age 6, beginning with the first cycle of basic education.

Is kindergarten compulsory in Syria?
No, pre-primary education (kindergarten) is not compulsory and is mostly run by private institutions.

What are the two cycles of basic education in Syria?
Cycle 1 includes Grades 1–6 (ages 6–12) and Cycle 2 includes Grades 7–9 (ages 12–15), after which students sit for the Basic Education Certificate exam.

What happens after basic education in Syria?
Students enter secondary education, choosing either general secondary (scientific or literary) or vocational/technical tracks, based on exam performance and interests.

What is the Baccalaureate Exam in Syria?
The Baccalaureate Exam (Al-Shahada Al-Thanawiya) is a national exam taken at the end of secondary education and determines university eligibility.

What is the role of the Ministry of Education in Syria?
The Ministry of Education oversees basic and secondary education, while the Ministry of Higher Education manages universities and technical institutes.

What was the literacy rate in Syria before the conflict?
Before 2011, Syria’s adult literacy rate was about 83%, with young adult literacy exceeding 95%.

How did the Syrian conflict affect school enrollment?
The conflict caused a drastic decline in enrollment: primary enrollment dropped to 51% during peak conflict years, and secondary enrollment fell to 38%.

How many Syrian children are out of school today?
As of early 2024, around 2.4 million children are out of school out of a total 5.52 million school-age children in Syria.

How has infrastructure been affected by the conflict?
Over 7,000 schools have been damaged or destroyed, and only about two-thirds of Syria’s 19,663 schools remain operational as of 2023.

How has the teacher workforce been impacted?
Over 150,000 education personnel have left, and many remaining teachers are unqualified or poorly trained, especially in conflict zones.

What are the current challenges in curriculum delivery in Syria?
Different areas use different curricula based on who controls them, making national reintegration difficult and fragmenting educational standards.

What are the main higher education institutions in Syria?
Key universities include the University of Damascus, University of Aleppo, Tishreen University, and Al-Baath University.

When was private higher education introduced in Syria?
Private universities were authorized starting in 2001, and by the 2012/2013 academic year, 20 private universities operated alongside seven public ones.

How long does it take to complete higher education in Syria?
Bachelor’s degrees typically take 4–6 years, master’s degrees take 2 years, and PhDs require at least 3 years.

What is the status of vocational education in Syria?
Vocational education is part of secondary education, offering training in trades and technical fields. Pre-conflict, the goal was to enroll 40% of students from lower secondary.

What psychosocial challenges affect students in Syria?
Many children have experienced trauma and attend overcrowded schools, leading to stress, learning difficulties, and the need for mental health support.

How has education funding changed since the war began?
The share of the national budget allocated to education dropped from 7.1% in 2011 to 3.6% in 2022, a 78% real-term decrease.

How has the conflict affected displaced children’s education?
Displacement, both internal and refugee-based, has severely disrupted access to education, with over 1.3 million school-age Syrian refugees in 2015.

Are there any improvements in recent years in school enrollment?
Yes, enrollment has partially rebounded to about 70–80% in primary education, though secondary enrollment remains much lower.

What is being done to address Syria’s education crisis?
Efforts by the UN, NGOs, and humanitarian agencies focus on rebuilding schools, training teachers, psychosocial support, and providing safe learning spaces.

Why is Syria’s education system considered to be in crisis?
Due to war-related destruction, mass displacement, teacher shortages, curriculum fragmentation, and significant learning loss, the system struggles to function effectively.