Protect Rojava Education has become an urgent global call as Education International (EI) warns that a decade-long, inclusive education system in North and East Syria is facing systematic dismantling amid renewed violence. In early February 2026, EI issued a strong appeal for international solidarity following attacks by Syria’s interim government and escalating instability linked to ISIS prison breaks, which together threaten educators, students, and unionists across the region.
The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), commonly known as Rojava, has been internationally recognized for building a rare multilingual, democratic, and gender-inclusive education model in the middle of prolonged conflict. Today, that model is under direct assault.
A Decade of Educational Progress Under Threat
Since 2012, Rojava has developed an education system grounded in pluralism and local governance, offering instruction in Kurdish, Arabic, Syriac, and Armenian. This approach marked a historic shift away from decades of centralized and exclusionary policies imposed by Damascus.
Education International highlights that this progress was largely driven by the Union of Teachers of North and East Syria (UTNES), an affiliate representing more than 40,000 educators. UTNES has played a central role in teacher training, curriculum development, and safeguarding union freedoms, even during the fight against ISIS.
However, January 2026 marked a turning point. According to EI, military offensives by the Syrian interim government, combined with security breakdowns caused by ISIS jailbreaks, have led to mass displacement, school closures, and targeted intimidation of educators.
Ideological Rollbacks and Risks to Minority Rights
EI has raised alarm over reports that Islamist-aligned forces are attempting to impose ideological controls on education in areas affected by the offensive. Such moves, the organization warns, risk erasing years of secular, inclusive reforms that promoted gender equality, minority rights, and democratic participation.
For communities already traumatized by war, education has functioned as a stabilizing force. Schools in Rojava are not only places of learning but also spaces for social cohesion, especially for women, ethnic minorities, and internally displaced families.
EI stresses that dismantling this system would have consequences far beyond classrooms, undermining long-term peacebuilding efforts in Syria.
Education International’s Call to Protect Rojava Education
In its February 5, 2026 appeal, EI urged governments, international institutions, and UN agencies to take immediate and coordinated action to protect Rojava education. The organization specifically called for:
- Public condemnation of attacks on educators, students, and trade unionists
- Rejection of ideological or sectarian interference in curricula
- Financial and logistical support for UTNES, ensuring teachers can continue working under safe conditions
- International monitoring of minority rights and education access in conflict-affected zones
EI emphasized that public education is a cornerstone of post-conflict recovery, warning that silence or inaction could legitimize the erosion of hard-won democratic gains.
Teachers on the Front Line of Conflict
Educators in North and East Syria now face overlapping threats: physical insecurity, political pressure, and economic collapse. Many teachers have been displaced, while others continue working without regular salaries or adequate resources.
Despite these challenges, UTNES remains operational, coordinating emergency responses and advocating for teachers’ rights. EI notes that supporting teacher unions is one of the most effective ways to protect education systems during conflict, as unions provide both organizational resilience and community trust.
Why Protecting Rojava Education Matters Globally
The struggle to Protect Rojava Education is not only a regional issue. EI frames it as a global test of commitment to education as a human right, particularly in fragile and post-conflict settings.
Rojava’s education model has often been cited as evidence that inclusive, locally governed schooling is possible even during war. Allowing it to collapse would send a damaging message to educators and reformers worldwide who operate under similar risks.
As diplomatic efforts around Syria continue, EI insists that education must not be treated as a secondary concern, but as a central pillar of peace, reconciliation, and social stability.
International Solidarity at a Critical Moment
Education International has also released customizable advocacy letters addressed to UN bodies and international partners, urging them to prioritize education protections in Syria’s evolving political landscape.
With violence escalating and political uncertainty deepening, the coming months will be decisive. EI’s message is clear: without urgent global engagement, one of the Middle East’s most inclusive education experiments could be permanently dismantled.
Protecting teachers today, the organization argues, is essential to protecting Syria’s future tomorrow.
For more details & sources visit: Education International
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