16 May 2024

SNC President, Dr. Bader Jamous, met on Thursday with the Minister of Higher Education, Dr. Jihad Hijazi and the Rector of Free Aleppo University, Dr. Ahmad Bakkar. They discussed the situation of education in the liberated northern areas and the importance of supporting this vital sector in the context of supporting the role and future of Syrian youth.

During the meeting, in which several University teaching staff and academicians also participated, the SNC President commended the efforts of the university and the teaching staff. He highlighted the importance of according the educational process as a whole and university and higher education in particular special attention to provide students all possible support as builders of future Syria. He also stressed the importance of providing the adequate conditions for actors in the educational process including professors, academicians and staff to carry out their tasks with special attention to their continuous capacity building and development. He also asserted the importance of introducing curricula with much care in addition to supervising and monitoring them in addition to annual review and development of the university’s educational plan.

The discussion also tackled Syrian youth and their relation to education. Dr. Jamous expressed optimism with the capacities and abilities of Syrian youth, their academic achievement and their great ambitions despite all the terrible war circumstances they have been through. He asserted that the SNC is keen on giving them a role in current Syrian political life in addition to ensuring that the anticipated constitution guarantees their right to political participation, state administration and outlining its future. He said it was essential to organize regular meetings and discussions between the SNC and the university rectorship on the one hand and between the SNC and university students on the other. A draft agreement with the University of Teramo was also discussed as the university could become a partner and sign off the degrees. The clinical psychology and psychiatry programs as well as the cooperation with a British committee to support university education were also discussed.

Dr. Jamous also offered a briefing on the situation of the political process in Syria and the latest developments in international positions as well as the SNC’s endeavors on all Arab and international levels to further the political solution which being stalled by the Syrian regime. He asserted that the SNC firmly believes in a political process based on international resolutions especially the Geneva Communique and UNSCR 2254.