Blog 6: Education System in Syria

On March 05, 2013, an article was written by Hania Mourtada and Rick Gladstone of The New York Times, highlighting the great fall of the education system in Syria. The main cause of the fall of the education system is unbelievable amount of violence due to the local Civil War. Parents are terrified and are refusing to send their children to school. Some people are even moving their children to other schools where violence is limited. This causes an overcrowding problem in the schools in Syria. Thousands of schools have been vandalized, damaged, or converted into shelters for civilians. Some children show up for school maybe twice a week, while some others are not going at all. UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund did a full report and assessment on the Syrian education system. They found that a rise in homelessness, hunger and illness, and lack of security within Syria. This is causing the attendance in school to fluctuate and Syria to move a couple steps backwards because they used to cherish education. They have lost their quality in education, in which they fought so long to obtain. Syria does believe their education system will improve and progress over time.

I was heartbroken after reading this article. The fact that these children cannot even get a good education, if none at all, kills me inside. I always have believed that everyone deserves an opportunity to be great in whatever they want to pursue in life, but these children cannot even go to school because they fear for their lives. Schools are supposed to be a safety zone for children and without, they are not secure. I hope that Syria take control over this Civil War so the schools can open up and rebuild a foundation for a quality education. I pray that things get better for Syria and its children because they are truly suffering.

Bria Broadway 03/06/2013 5.21pm

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/06/world/middleeast/syrian-rebels-fight-to-hold-northern-city.html?_r=0