Education Authority of North and East Syria sets conditions for licensing private schools and kindergartens

ZALIN, Syria — Commenting on the recent decision of the Education Authority of the Democratic Autonomous Administration (DAA) of Gozarto (Jazira) Region in North and East Syria not to grant any licenses for private education facilities, Deputy Co-Chair of the Education Authority Vivian Bahho Oussi told Suroyo TV, “Because education in Gozarto Region depends on free education at all educational levels, and the Education Authority provides education free of charge, as it is a right for everyone, it was decided not to license any new private schools or private kindergartens.”

As for foreign language institutes, Oussi continued, “According to the Education Authority’s Decision 21 issued on 3 September 2022, and with the approval of the Executive Council, all unlicensed institutes were suspended by the Authority because they had no right to open institutes or centers without a license. The licensed institutes that had not been reviewed by the Authority to renew the previously granted licenses were closed, due to their non-compliance with the licenses of language and computer institutes.”

She added that according to Decree No. 17 of 2016, the Education Authority has the right to close all private institutes and centers that do not obtain an official license from the Authority.

Oussi stated that they coordinated with the Interior Authority and a session was held with the Justice Council and the Internal Security Forces (ISF) to implement the decision, adding that the campaign they are carrying out aims to alert the owners of private institutes and centers, private language institutes, and others. The cities of Dayrik (Al-Malikiyah, Derik) and Zalin (Qamishli) have closed unlicensed schools and institutes in cooperation with the Education Authority and Internal Security Forces. The owners of private schools and institutes met with the Authority to complete their papers and discuss the decision regarding the closure of the institutes.