Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), announced the Organization’s full support for the efforts of the Syrian Arab Republic in the fields of education, science, and culture, through the provision of technical assistance and the establishment of international partnerships. This came during his participation on Sunday, 17 August 2025, at the head of a high-level delegation from the Organization, in the launch of the initiative “Give Me Back My School,” which was inaugurated by the Syrian Ministry of Education in a major ceremony in Damascus.

In his address during the launch ceremony, which was attended by several ministers, representatives of international organizations, and civil society, Dr. AlMalik praised the steps of the Syrian leadership, which is giving utmost priority to knowledge and education at this stage, out of the belief that they represent both the solution and the true beginning of Syria’s recovery. He added that this was clearly reflected in the launch of today’s initiative, stating: “The clearest proof that the country is regaining its vitality is the revival of its schools with renewed activity and brilliance.”

The ICESCO Director-General also highlighted the historic and scientific stature of Damascus throughout the ages, as it witnessed the brilliance of many prominent figures of Islamic civilization in various fields. He pointed out that Damascus was among the first cities to know formal schools, stressing that education there never ceased, even amid the sounds of battles that the city historically witnessed.

For his part, Dr. Mohammed Abdulrahman Turko, Syrian Minister of Education, affirmed that the greatest challenge lies in ensuring that every child receives his right to education, especially as the Ministry prepares to welcome 1.5 million students who will return with their families from abroad in the coming months.

Meanwhile, Syrian Minister of Finance, Mohammed Yassar Barniya, stated that the education sector has become a top priority in government spending at present, particularly with the approach of the new academic year and the urgent need to rebuild destroyed schools. He noted that discussions are ongoing with international donor institutions, chiefly the Saudi Fund for Development, for joint cooperation in restoring these schools and in developing the entire educational process.

The launch of the “Give Me Back My School” initiative comes amid unprecedented challenges facing the education sector in Syria, where more than 7,000 out of 23,000 public and private schools have been destroyed. This has had a direct impact on the future of 4.2 million students in pre-university education. Figures also indicate that there are currently 2.4 million students who have dropped out of school, with expectations that the number of new dropouts will reach 1.6 million during the current year.