Advanced Technology Schools were opened today, Sunday, in the governorates of Damascus, Homs, and Aleppo, with the official start of classes for their students for the 2026 academic year. This follows a new educational path that combines theoretical knowledge with practical training, aiming to prepare specialized cadres in modern digital and industrial fields, linking education to scientific research, production, and labor market needs.
In Damascus, the Ministers of Education and Teaching, Mohammad Abdul Rahman Tarkou, and Higher Education and Scientific Research, Marwan Al-Halabi, opened the Advanced Technology School in the governorate. Minister Tarkou explained that the new path starts from the tenth grade up to the university stage, representing a qualitative shift in the education system. Its goal is to prepare a generation capable of keeping pace with technological developments and digital transformation, and contributing to industrial automation, robotics, and modern technical specialties.
Tarkou pointed out that the schools are equipped with specialized laboratories and computers, and interactive digital curricula combining theoretical and practical aspects are adopted. For his part, Al-Halabi stated that the path begins with discovering and developing talents through laboratory training, leading to the implementation of entrepreneurial projects and moving to Advanced Technology Colleges within an applied university path. He noted that it includes advanced digital technology, such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, and industrial technology, including automation, robotics, and nanotechnology.
For his part, Eyad Sara, director of the Advanced Technology School in Damascus, clarified that student admission was conducted after administering a test. The subjects include fundamentals of electricity and electronics, computer science, physics, and mathematics, with a focus on the practical aspect. Student Alma Habbour expressed her enthusiasm for joining technical specialties, especially artificial intelligence and computer science.
In Homs, the Advanced Technology School received 100 students distributed across four class sections, according to Malk Al-Sebaei, the Director of Education in the governorate. She explained that the first day included introductory activities for students and their goals for joining the school. Al-Sebaei noted that the school includes specialized laboratories for electronic and logical circuits, cybersecurity, and IT devices. She added that administrative and teaching staff were selected based on criteria considering competence, experience, educational performance, and ethics, with efforts to monitor staff performance, student progress, and skill development.
For his part, Hassan Abdul Latif, a member of the Executive Office for the Education Sector in Homs, pointed out that the school represents a new educational path alongside the scientific, literary, and vocational paths, contributing to preparing cadres capable of working in modern industry and technology fields. Student Hamza Al-Hajj Khalid expressed his aspiration to develop his skills in programming and artificial intelligence, taking advantage of the available facilities. Student Rawaf Shahbaz noted that the school provides an opportunity to enhance his skills in digital and industrial specialties.
Previously, President Ahmed Al-Sharaa issued Decree No. (183) of 2026 on October 7 last year, establishing the "National Advanced Technology Path," under the supervision of the Ministries of Education and Teaching, and Higher Education and Scientific Research, in coordination with other relevant ministries. According to the decree, specialized schools within the secondary stage called "Advanced Technology Schools" are established, accepting students at the beginning of this stage based on a national admission test and fair, transparent scientific criteria.
The Ministry of Education and Teaching also conducted the national standardized admission test for the path on October 20 last year, with the participation of 1,024 students, to select 300 of them. In Aleppo, Ahmad Obaid, the Director of Education in the governorate, clarified during the opening of the Advanced Technology School in the Maysaloun area that the school was equipped with the necessary laboratories and technologies for the educational and practical process.
Obaid noted that the distance of some students' residences from the school poses a challenge to their access, pointing out efforts to find appropriate solutions and provide housing for them. School director Engineer Hazem Mahmoud explained that tenth-grade students study subjects shared between the industrial and digital paths, and will be distributed in the second secondary grade according to their grades and preferences, continuing their studies until obtaining the secondary certificate.
Mahmoud added that the educational path includes a university stage at a College of Advanced Technology to be established at Aleppo University, where the student studies for three years and obtains a degree in Advanced Technology, while the fourth year allows obtaining a degree in Engineering of Advanced Technology. Student Yaman Malah expressed his happiness at joining the school, considering it provides a new educational experience and a path suitable for his technical interests. Student Bayan Baker noted that the specialty opens future horizons in technological fields.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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