Syria’s post-Assad school curriculum glorifies nationalism, demonizes Jews — study

A study by IMPACT-se found that Syria's post-Assad school curriculum promotes an Islamist national identity, glorifies jihad and martyrdom, and portrays Jews through antisemitic stereotypes. The report analyzed 130 textbooks for grades 1–12 used in the 2025–2026 school year, comparing them with Assad-era textbooks, revealing a shift from pan-Arab nationalism to an Islamist worldview under President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

A study by the educational monitoring organization IMPACT-se has found that Syria's school curriculum has undergone significant changes since the fall of the Assad regime in 2024, promoting an Islamist national identity, glorifying jihad and martyrdom, and portraying Jews through antisemitic stereotypes. The study analyzed 130 textbooks for grades 1–12 used in the 2025–2026 school year and retained for 2026–2027, comparing them with textbooks published under Assad between 2011 and 2023. The report reveals that the new curriculum represents a significant ideological transformation since President Ahmed al-Sharaa took power after his Islamist forces ousted Bashar al-Assad’s Ba’athist regime in December 2024. The new approach replaces Assad’s pan-Arab nationalist narrative with an Islamist worldview. In one example, a Grade 3 Islamic Studies textbook tells parents that the aim of education is preparing children to participate in 'serving the faith and the ummah.' Content associated with Assad, his family and their regime has been 'systematically removed.' Iran and Hezbollah, formerly presented positively, are now condemned. Jews are repeatedly portrayed through antisemitic stereotypes, with one Grade 6 lesson teaching that 'treason and backstabbing are among the traits of the Jews.' Israel’s right to exist is rejected, and maps label Israel as 'Palestine' or 'Occupied Palestine.' Women’s roles are diminished, and scientific theory such as evolution has been removed. The study is part of IMPACT-se’s research program examining textbooks against UNESCO-based standards.