Restoring schools and futures with education in Syria
Over the past 13 years, the people of Syria have faced a multitude of challenges, including conflict, displacement, COVID-19, devastating earthquakes and an ongoing economic crisis. These hardships have impacted every aspect of their lives, with children’s education suffering a particularly severe blow. Nearly half of school-aged children are currently out of school, and approximately one third of the country’s schools are non-functional.
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is helping to address the education crisis by rehabilitating schools, introducing innovative teaching methods and providing remedial classes for children.
As the new academic year approaches, children in these regions are preparing to return to school with renewed hope and excitement, thanks to the improvements made to their learning environments.
Rebuilding lives: The vital role of rehabilitating schools in Syria
Rehabilitating schools play a crucial role in rebuilding educational systems devastated by years of crisis. These schools provide access to continuous learning, create safer environments and mitigate the risks of child labour. As a priority of early recovery efforts, rehabilitated schools significantly contribute to fostering resilience and rebuilding the dreams of Syrian children.
In rural Al-Hasakah, northeastern Syria, NRC undertook essential rehabilitation work at the Dubai School, addressing critical needs such as electricity and water. This involved digging a well to provide water, repairing bathrooms, fixing doors, repainting the school and installing solar panels to ensure a reliable power supply, because the village lacked access to electricity. These efforts aimed to improve the school’s overall environment and create a more welcoming learning space for the children.
Mr Nihad, the headteacher at Dubai School, highlighted the impact of these interventions: “Before NRC’s rehabilitation, our school, which accommodates 600 students, had no water well. NRC drilled a well, solving our water problem, and installed solar panels to address electricity shortages. The overall condition of the school is now much better, and as a result students love coming to school.”
Mr Nihad added, that 147 students, including 69 dropouts, benefitted from the catch-up classes, NRC supported providing to the student attending at Dubai school.
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Innovative teaching methods and teacher training
In its interventions, NRC also focus on enhancing the quality of education by training teachers in modern teaching techniques, such as using play and creative strategies to make lessons more engaging. Teachers become equipped with the tools to incorporate these new methods into their classrooms.
In addition, NRC is implementing two key programmes in Syria: the Transitional Education Programme and the Remedial Education Programme. The Transitional Education Programme targets students who have been out of school, helping them catch up on missed education. The Remedial Education Programme provides additional support to students struggling with certain subjects.
Mona*, a 10-year-old student at Dubai School, participated in remedial courses in Arabic and mathematics. “I had difficulties with Arabic, but thanks to the modern teaching methods using play and visual aids, I improved a lot. I also started to enjoy mathematics more,” she shared.
Psychosocial support for children
To aid children experiencing trauma, NRC has also implemented the Better Learning Programme, a psychosocial support initiative. This programme combines psychosocial and educational methods to help teachers support children suffering from stress and trauma caused by war and displacement.
All of these programmes are particularly crucial following the recent earthquake, which displaced many families and further damaged school buildings.
Ahmad*, a 10-year-old student from Aleppo, said, “I love the belly-breathing exercise because it calms my nerves and helps me face my fears, like my fear of the dark.” After participating in the programme, Abdul returned to school with a better understanding of his subjects. He dreams of becoming an astronaut and seeing Earth from space.
As the new academic year begins, psychosocial and educational support ensure that children can return to school with confidence and resilience, despite the challenges they continue to face.
These projects are funded by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO).