The Feminist Lobby is deeply concerned by the changes made to school curricula in Syria, including reports that images of unveiled women have been removed and replaced with images of veiled women, alongside the removal of concepts such as citizenship and democracy and illustrations related to art and sculpture.
Removing images of women and girls, and erasing concepts of citizenship, democracy and diversity from the curriculum, undermines children’s right to an education that reflects the diversity of society and introduces them to the values of participation, equality and respect for differences.
Limiting the representation of women to a single image also reinforces exclusion and presents unveiled women as outside what is socially acceptable. Education curricula should not be used to impose a single identity or particular ideology. They should be spaces for learning, critical thinking and pluralism, and should safeguard the dignity and rights of all members of society.
The Feminist Lobby warns that, if allowed to continue, these changes threaten the identity and diversity of Syrian society and risk pushing it gradually towards greater exclusion and extremism, whatever names may be given to these changes.
The Feminist Lobby calls for these changes to be reviewed and for educators, experts and civil society representatives to participate in developing the curricula, in a way that ensures respect for social diversity, equality, human rights, and the values of citizenship and democracy.
Textbook comparisons published by Syrian journalist Mohammad al-Salloum, who used an IMPACT-se report as a starting point before comparing earlier and revised textbook editions.
