Syrian-Iranian cooperation to rehabilitate damaged schools and support vocational education in Syria
DAMASCUS, (ST)- Prime Minister Imad Khamis discussed on Wednesday with Iran’s Education Minister Mohsen Haji Mirzaei means to boost economic, social and educational cooperation and coordination and to build and invest human resources for reconstruction.
Khamis said that the Syrian government has accorded special interest to requirements of human sources development and to confronting the repercussions of the terrorist war on Syria which targeted the moral and cultural values of Syrian youths.
The government has been keen on rehabilitating schools in the areas liberated from terrorism, on developing scientific research system and on providing requirements of vocational education, according to Khamis.
He stressed the importance of cooperation with friendly countries to exchange expertise and knowledge.
On his part, Mirzaei hailed the steadfastness of the Syrian education institutions and their determination to continue the education process despite terrorist attacks.
He reaffirmed his country’s support for Syria’s development plans and its desire to assist in the development of the education sector and scientific research in Syria.
Earlier on Wednesday, Syrian Education Minister Imad al-Azeb and his Iranian counterpart Mohsen Haji Mirzaei held talks on enhancing education cooperation between Syria and Iran, mainly in rehabilitating damaged Syrian schools and supporting technical and vocational education.
Al-Azeb said that the talks aimed at exchanging expertise and knowledge between the two countries in the education field, pointing out that the two sides have agreed on the outlines for signing agreements and memorandums of understanding regarding best means to develop education methods.
The Iranian minister, on his part, said that his visit to Syria is important for exchanging visions and ideas that serve the interests of the people in both countries. He said that his country is ready to provide all forms of assistance to renovate schools and support education sector.
Following the talks, the Iranian delegation attended a workshop on establishing the “STEAM” curriculum for basic and secondary education held by the National Center for Developing Curricula.
The workshop aims at identifying the “STEAM” curriculum as an educational approach that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics as access points for guiding student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking.
Hamda Mustafa