Syria, UNESCO Discuss Boosting Cooperation in Education, Media and Higher Education

DAMASCUS, (ST)- Minister of Education Hazwan al-Waz and Director of UNESCO’s Regional Bureau for Education in the Arab States, Beirut Office, Hamed Bin Seif al-Hammami on Wednesday discussed prospects of cooperation between the ministry and the organization’s office.

The two sides focused in their talks on the international organization’s strategies, programs and priorities for the coming era as well as the need to have contacts with national concerned parties through specialized national committee on issues relating to protecting the Syrian heritage and implementing education development projects in Syria.

 Al-Waz, who stressed the ministry’s keenness on boosting cooperation between Syrian education, scientific and cultural bodies and UNESCO, explained the situation of the education process in Syria under the current circumstances and talked about the damage caused to the education sector because of the terrorist war on Syria.

On his part, al-Hammami stressed that work in the joint projects and programs being implemented in cooperation with the ministry is going well, referring to the organization’s willingness to enhance cooperation and its readiness to provide support for current and future projects.

Media Training Courses

Later, Information Minister Mohammad Ramez Turjman and Al- Hammami discussed cooperation in support for the ministry’s project, including training courses for media staff.

Turjman stressed the ministry’s keenness on enhancing the skills and abilities of journalists in support of media performance in general.  

Al-Hammami, on his part, said that UNESCO is coordinating with all ministries to conduct training to local cadres, noting that the organization has provide training to the staff working in the cultural and media sectors.

The UNESCO official hailed the efforts that have been exerted by the Syrian government to support education, culture and social affairs despite the critical circumstances in the country.

Cooperation in higher education

Higher Education Minister Atef Naddaf also met al-Hammami and discussed with him the work mechanism to meet the needs of Syrian universities.

Naddaf affirmed Syria’s keenness on implementing necessary policies to provide quality education for all in order to achieve sustainable development and protect educational institutions from terrorist attacks.

He reviewed procedures adopted by the ministry under the current circumstances in the country to facilitate students’ movement from one university to another and help those who were forced to leave their universities in terrorism-affected cities continue their study.

The minister reviewed the destruction caused to the educational infrastructure as a result of terrorist organizations’ systematic attacks, noting that Syrian universities, despite the ongoing terrorist war, continue to welcome students from Arab countries and offers them rent-free housing.

Al-Hammami voiced UNESCO’s readiness to provide assistance necessary to ensure the continuity of Syria’s higher educational process.

Hamda Mustafa