North and East Syria: Education in Syriac language widely supported by the different components of Tel Tamr

TEL TAMR, KHABUR, Syria – Teaching the school curricula in the languages ​​of the region’s people is one of the revolutionary gains of the Democratic Autonomous Administration (DAA) of North and East Syria. After the Syriac language was included in the DAA curriculum, all the other components of the town of Tel Tamr – Arabs and Kurds – are now able to learn the Syriac language.

Some citizens and parents of students from the Arab and Kurdish component indicated their willingness to learn the Syriac language and fully support the teaching of the language to their children. In comments to our correspondent Ahmed Samila in Tel Tamr they expressed their satisfaction with this important educational step that demonstrates the inclusive and multicultural values of democracy in progress.

The Kurdish citizen Rama Seydo stated that she is proud to learn the Syriac language:

“With the Democratic Autonomous Administration, we have established democratic values and the civilian, police, and military institutions of all our components work side by side, so I am ready to have my children learn the Syriac language.”

Mahmoud, who is from the Arabic component, pointed out that it is a good idea for children to learn the Syriac language in school because democracy should be truly living together, and this is not strange for us because we always have lived side by side – the Syriacs, Kurds and Arabs.

Another citizen of the Arab component stated that;

“Every person has a mother tongue which is considered his or her identity. I am an Arab, and everyone should have the right to learn their mother tongue. I fully support including the Syriac curriculum in the DAA curricula.”

“The Syriacs have the right to learn the Syriac language and teach it to their children, and no one can ignore the presence of the Syriac people in the region,” he added.

Hamdiya Hussein of the Kurdish component of Tel Tamr explained that she fully supports this idea because it supports coexistence between Kurds, Arabs and Syriacs, and added:

“I personally want to learn the Syriac language, especially as we coexist with the Syriac component. It is wonderful to learn a new language, and the Syriac language looks very interesting.”