Syria: A back-to-school moment like no other
Story highlights
- Syria's 14-year conflict created significant barriers for children to access quality education—but since 2020, support from GPE has enabled thousands to learn in safe environments.
- Non-formal education pathways have brought out-of-school children into classrooms, helping them catch up on lost learning and develop skills to transition to formal education.
- Amid Syria’s recent transition, the start of a new school year is more than an academic milestone; it marks a commitment to peace, resilience and the future of Syria’s children.
This story was written in collaboration with Save the Children and UNICEF Syria.
In a quiet displacement camp in Ar-Raqqa, 10-year-old Sarah* steps through the doors of her school each morning with a smile—and a dream of becoming a teacher.
Nearly 300 kilometers away in Lattakia, 13-year-old Hayat clutches her notebooks, determined to become a pediatrician.
Though far apart, both girls share a journey: they were once denied an education.
Today, thanks to GPE, Save the Children, UNICEF, and many other partners, they are among over 15,000 children who have caught up on lost learning in safe, non-formal classrooms and transitioned into formal education—proof that a second chance can rewrite a child’s future.
"School is my life": Sarah’s path to the classroom
For most of her life, 10-year-old Sarah experienced repeated displacement due to conflict in Syria.
Her family of seven eventually settled in an informal camp in the northeast, and education was a distant dream.
“Before I started school, I didn’t know anything. I felt sad and would often sit outside, watching my friends go to school,” she recalls.
Everything changed when her family received a visit from staff who work at the nearby temporary learning space run by Save the Children and funded by GPE.
They spoke with her parents about an accelerated education program for children who have missed school.
The program helps them acquire foundational and life skills and prepare for formal schooling.
Sarah and her siblings were enrolled right away and received school bags.
“I loved my classroom, learning, the teachers and playing. The school is big, has lots of space, and is safe.”
Through the program, Sarah learned how to read and write, completed grade 3 at the temporary learning space and transitioned into grade 4 at a formal school.
To ease this transition, Sarah is one of 1,500 students to receive a tailored age- and grade-appropriate learning kit with stationery, notebooks, math tools and an aluminum water bottle—supplies that help reduce economic barriers for families.
Sarah’s mother, Rim*, reflects on what it means for her daughter to have the opportunity to go to school:
“Education gives my daughter peace of mind and helps her become an active member of the community. The school supports in coping with life’s pressures and shields her from the hardships we have faced.”
The impact has been transformative—not only for the children, but for their families as well.
Sarah recognizes the power of education and wants all children to have the chance to learn.
“In the future, I hope to become a teacher so I can teach children how to read and write. I wish for children who don’t study to go back to school, so none of them are without education.”
Education for recovery
Since 2020, GPE has provided over US$46 million in grants to support education in Syria, working alongside partners to establish safe learning environments, improve infrastructure, and strengthen community engagement.
GPE has also played a key role in strengthening sector coordination, helping partners align their efforts to ensure a more effective and resilient education response.
Together with UNICEF and Save the Children, GPE has supported out-of-school children and those at risk of dropping out through non-formal education pathways.
Enabling children to thrive
Behind Sarah’s transformation is a team of dedicated educators like Manal*, an education facilitator with five years’ experience. Manal helps children like Sarah catch up on lost learning due to displacement, poverty and crisis.
Trained in classroom management, inclusive learning, socio-emotional learning and child protection, she tailors lessons to meet children’s individual needs.
“Most children here are displaced and have experienced war and suffered from it. They have gone through very tough conditions. We do our best to get close to them, help them, and create a safe, comfortable environment where they can feel at ease,” she explains.
Manal believes that education is the key to a better future—not only for individual children but for Syrian society as a whole.
“To help children overcome difficulties and reduce stress, we aim to ease their fear of interacting with others. They interact more with their families and relatives and become more integrated into their communities. When they enter formal schools, they are more engaged.”
Manal plays a key role in campaigns to get children into classrooms, distributing brochures and visiting families in informal camps and residential areas.
She explains that there are non-formal education pathways available to their children that teach them essential skills and serve as stepping stones to formal education.
“The GPE programs are crucial for the future of Syrian children who were previously out-of-school to gain access to quality and inclusive education opportunities, support them to take national exams, earn certification and continue learning.”
“My dream is to become a pediatrician”: Hayat’s education journey
Hayat and her family, from Lattakia in western Syria, were displaced, and she stopped attending school from grades 1 through 5 due to the conflict. Frustrated, she never stopped striving to learn.
“My mother is educated,” she says proudly, “and she taught me at home, reminding me that I should be ready to return to school any day.”
When an outreach team from UNICEF spoke with her family about a non-formal education center nearby, Hayat was thrilled to return to the classroom.
The center—run by UNICEF and funded by GPE—supported her to catch up and regain confidence.
“I like the center because it focuses on emotional support as much as education. If you have a problem at home and feel unable to continue, they try to help as much as possible.”
Fatima, one of Hayat’s teachers, knows that life has not been easy for her students.
Their determination to learn is a great source of motivation for her: “Despite all the challenges, they are attending classes, always on time, and enduring all the pressures to progress academically and join grade 9.”
This year, Hayat entered grade 9 and is attending a formal school. She is one step closer to achieving her dream of becoming a pediatrician.
A new school year brings hope and opportunity
Syria’s protracted conflict has created a complex web of humanitarian, economic and social challenges. Millions of children have experienced violence, displacement and trauma.
The economy has been devastated, with 90% of Syrians living in poverty, widespread unemployment; Soaring food prices leaving 9.3 million people food insecure.
These factors create significant barriers for children to access safe, quality education, and rebuild their futures.
But a shift is underway. The country’s recent transition to a new government is opening new opportunities for engagement and reform.
With evolving political priorities, there is a movement to bring children not only back to classrooms but also back to hope.
This year, “back-to-school” signifies a renewed commitment to education as the cornerstone of Syria’s recovery.
"For the first time after 14 years of conflict, children starting a new school year is a powerful symbol of hope and recovery. With support from the Global Partnership for Education, UNICEF and partners are helping to make this milestone meaningful by reaching the most vulnerable children. This is not just about getting children back into classrooms; it is about restoring every child’s right to learn, strengthening social cohesion, and laying the foundation for a more peaceful and prosperous Syria."
For families and teachers, the new school year is more than an academic milestone, it is a commitment to peace, resilience and the future of Syria’s children.
Impact at a glance
- Over 178,000 children enrolled in non-formal education pathways.
- Almost 65,100 children with disabilities supported to participate in education.
- Over 19,814 teachers trained in pedagogy, psychosocial support, and child protection.
- In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that hit Syria in 2023, targeted support enabled over 94,500 children to participate in non-formal education services, with 96% showing improved reading and math skills.
- More than 2,930 children enrolled in early childhood education programs.
“GPE has focused on emergency support for children affected by conflict, displacement and crises. It has helped create safe learning spaces, train teachers and support children to catch up on learning. Looking ahead, GPE has the opportunity to play a vital role in Syria’s future by working with the education ministry to advance education priorities. This is a critical moment to shape a stronger future for Syria’s children.”
Education multiplies possibility: it not only equips children with literacy and numeracy, but also builds life skills, resilience and hope.
By keeping children engaged in learning, it protects them from the risks of child labor, early marriage and exploitation, while opening pathways to future study, employment and participation in rebuilding their communities.
With continued global support, even more Syrian children can reclaim their right to learn.
*Names have been changed.
While not a GPE partner country, Syria has received humanitarian funding with exceptional approval by the GPE Board.
September 2025
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