Within the context of UNESCO’s Education Response Strategy for the Syria Crisis, “Bridging Learning Gaps for Youth”, that aims at mitigating the detrimental impact of the Syria crisis on the education sector in the country, and upon request from Syrian national authorities, the Beirut-based regional bureau of UNESCO organized a national consultation mission in Damascus, on 19-21 February 2017, to discuss UNESCO-Syria partnership in education.

Three working groups were formed to identify areas of collaboration between UNESCO and education actors in Syria, and to brainstorm on a strategic action plan to expand access to education, develop quality education, and strengthen existing systems.

After the joint meeting it was agreed that UNESCO, in cooperation with the Syrian Education Ministry, will begin drafting the national plan for education, including revising curricula, training educational staff, and preparing a psychological and social support guide. In addition, UNESCO is providing technical, logistical, and financial support to help in rehabilitating schools in Aleppo and opening two prefabricated schools to accommodate the children of the city.

In a statement to journalists, Director of the Beirut-based Regional Bureau of the UNESCO for Education in the Arab States Hamad Bin Saif al-Hammami pointed out that in addition to developing a strategic plan for Syria to meet the needs of the education sector, the UNESCO also seeks to convey what is happening to Syria abroad via international and regional conferences and fora.