Syria to add Kurdish as elective course in schools from 2026-2027 academic year

DAMASCUS, Syria — Syria's Ministry of Education has announced that Kurdish will be taught as an elective course for two hours a week in schools starting from the 2026-2027 academic year. The decision is based on Decree No. 13 issued by President Ahmed al-Shara on January 16, 2026. The first article of the decree states that Syrian Kurds are one of the fundamental components of the country and that their cultural and linguistic identities are considered an inseparable part of a unified Syrian national identity. Under the third article, Kurdish is declared a national language and may be taught as an elective or cultural activity course in public and private schools in areas where Kurds make up a significant share of the population. According to the ministry, the course will be offered two hours a week across all grade levels, with its grade counted toward the general average but without affecting a student's pass or fail status. The National Curriculum Development Center has been tasked with preparing the curriculum, while teachers for the course will be selected through written and oral examinations. The decree signals a formal shift in Syria's approach to linguistic diversity within its public education system, although details on implementation, including school rollout in Kurdish-majority areas, remain to be released.