Ministry of Education of the interim government announced today the start of the application process at the University of Aleppo in liberated areas. The ministry said applications will be received at the same colleges or institutes where the last admission results were announced.
On November 9, the Ministry of Education announced admission results to different colleges and institutes of the University of Aleppo in four Syrian provinces.
The University of Aleppo is an institution owned by the state, not the regime, and is now run by the interim government in Aleppo, Idlib, rural Latakia, Homs, Hama, rural Damascus and Dara’a. The university includes 19 colleges and 10 institutes.
Deputy Minister of Education Abdul Rahman al-Haj said the idea of operating the University of Aleppo in the liberated areas was inspired by Pristina University in Kosovo during the war when the university was split into two parts. Haj added that the University of Aleppo is a public university established under the 1958 Act and is internationally recognized. The teaching staff who defected from the Assad regime will be teaching the same curricula in the liberated areas, but under the management of the interim government.
Haj explained that the interim government is now seeking to sign a number of agreements with neighboring and friendly countries to gain recognition for the documents issued by the university, adding that the management is working to sign partnerships with Arab, US and European universities and to adopt new programs at the university.
Haj pointed out that rapid progress is being made in the process of securing support for the university, noting that there are initiatives from universities of several countries to provide assistance to the University of Aleppo.
Haj also stressed the need to stop brain drain among the teaching staff, pointing out that tens of thousands of students may not be able to complete their studies as a result. He also said that re-operating the university would help prevent young people being radicalized and would reduce crime and immigration numbers.
Haj said that the university will seek to protect the educational process from any form of politicization and will preserve the Syrian national character. This will be reflected in the way the teaching staff are chosen. Haj made it clear that political affiliation of staff members will not be a factor in the selection process; however those who support the Assad regime will not be accepted.
Haj pointed out that the university has plans to gradually accept all dropouts. (Source: Syrian Coalition)
