Damascus, March 6 (SANA) Schools in northeastern Syria are operating steadily in Raqqa and Deir Ezzor provinces, with more than half a million students attending classes following the government’s restoration of control and extensive rehabilitation efforts.
Authorities say the initiatives aim to restore normal schooling, improve infrastructure, and provide equitable access to education in areas that returned to government control under a comprehensive agreement with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
In Raqqa province, the Ministry of Education has repaired damaged schools and supplied textbooks, desks, and teaching staff, Hamza Houriyeh, head of the Ministry’s Media Department, told SANA. He said that 249,039 students across all grade levels are now enrolled. The ministry has delivered 1,000 desks and 220,000 textbooks, while 6,356 teachers are working under a coordinated plan to improve education quality.
In Deir Ezzor, Houriyeh said rehabilitation work covered schools in multiple districts to meet rising student needs and provide a safer learning environment. More than 261,000 students have returned to classrooms following the restoration of 765 schools. The ministry has distributed 570,000 textbooks and supplied 10,000 new desks, easing overcrowding and improving conditions in previously damaged schools.
Reconstruction efforts remain ongoing, with 82 schools completely destroyed and requiring full rebuilding. The ministry continues to implement support programs for schools and teaching staff as part of a broader strategy to reintegrate students and strengthen social stability in the provinces.
Education in both provinces was severely disrupted during years of war, leaving hundreds of schools out of service and affecting large numbers of children. Authorities say current efforts aim to reverse that decline and restore normalcy to classrooms across the region.
