Damascus Moves to Rename Rojava University, Change Its Status
DAMASCUS — As the Syrian government prepares to open a new state university in Hasakah, it plans to rename Rojava University and give it a status aligned with a shared national identity.
DAMASCUS — As the Syrian government prepares to open a new state university in Hasakah, it plans to rename Rojava University and give it a status in line with a shared national identity. Hasakah Deputy Governor Ahmed al-Hilali announced that Arabic will remain the official language of general education, but that for the first time in Syrian history, Kurdish will be included in the curriculum as a subject.
Regional observers see the renaming of Rojava University and the transfer of its structure to central government control as the dismantling of local will and autonomous gains.
The imposition of Arabic as the primary language of instruction, and the reduction of Kurdish to the status of a single "subject," has drawn criticism that it restricts the right to education in one's mother tongue.
According to Rudaw, the Syrian government plans to open a state university in Hasakah and rename Rojava University. Hasakah Deputy Governor Ahmed al-Hilali said Arabic would remain the official language in general education, and that Kurdish would be taught as a subject for the first time in Syrian history.
Ahmed al-Hilali, Hasakah's deputy governor and spokesman for the presidential committee overseeing implementation of the January 29 agreement, told Rudaw that Syria's Ministry of Higher Education had prepared a comprehensive plan to open a state university in Hasakah.
"The Ministry of Higher Education has comprehensive plans to develop university education. These include opening a state university in Hasakah and considering the establishment of private universities according to the province's needs," al-Hilali said.
Rojava University to be renamed
Speaking on the renaming of Rojava University, al-Hilali said the university would be given a new name reflecting the shared national identity of all residents of Hasakah province.
"A suitable name reflecting the shared national identity of all citizens in Hasakah province will be adopted for Rojava University," al-Hilali said.
Al-Hilali said there would be no change to the languages of instruction at the university. "The core languages of instruction at Rojava University are already Arabic and English. No change will be made in this regard," he said.
Kurdish to be taught as a subject for the first time
Addressing the general education curriculum, which runs from primary school through the final year of high school, al-Hilali said the official curriculum would be based on Arabic.
However, he said, "A curriculum is being prepared in which Kurdish will be taught as a subject for the first time in Syrian history."
Nusaybin-Qamishlo border crossing expected to open within three months
Al-Hilali, who inspected the Nusaybin-Qamishlo border crossing with a Syrian government delegation the day before, said preparations for its opening could take about three months.
He said the crossing would help revive trade between Turkey and Iraq via Syrian territory, calling the project strategically important for Hasakah.
Mine clearance and technical work continue
Al-Hilali said he inspected the work underway at the crossing together with Simalka border crossing director Hamoud al-Hamoud, and that mine clearance, ground clearance and engineering surveys were ongoing in the area.
He said the work, overseen by the Border Crossings Authority, was aimed at completing the technical and logistical preparations needed for the crossing to become operational.
"The Nusaybin border crossing is a strategic project for Hasakah. Once it opens, trade, transport and transit crossings between Turkey and Iraq via Syrian territory will be revived. The revival of the highway project linking Nusaybin to the Walid (Tel Kocher) border crossing is also expected to strengthen economic growth in the region," al-Hilali said.