Languages in Syria

Arabic is Syria's official state language. Modern Standard Arabic is used for formal writing, administration and education, while Syrian or Levantine Arabic is used mainly in conversation, services, neighbourhoods and everyday communication. Arabic uses a right-to-left script. Kurdish, especially Kurmanji, is widely used in northern and northeastern areas and may be written in Latin, Hawar or modified Arabic scripts. Armenian, Western Armenian, Turkish, Circassian, Western Neo-Aramaic and Syriac mainly occur in minority, heritage or religious settings. English and French are the main foreign languages in the national curriculum and are also relevant to higher education and international work. Public schools provide the main national form of language education and normally do not charge a regular registration fee, although school cards or stamps may create small additional costs. Private and university courses charge fees according to the provider. The Ministry of Education and provincial education directorates manage school access and local implementation. A unified national calendar and framework introduced in 2025 coexist with continuing differences in access, teaching capacity and curriculum continuity across Syria. Decree No. 13/2026 recognizes Kurdish as a national language and protects Kurdish cultural and linguistic identity. From the 2026–27 academic year, public or private schools may offer Kurdish where there is a significant Kurdish-speaking population, either as a subject or as a cultural and educational activity. The planned provision is two classes per week in all grades; the mark counts toward the overall grade but does not determine pass or fail. Implementation depends on regional need, school capacity, curricula and teachers who pass written and oral examinations and receive training. Children and young people who have missed school may use formal schooling, Curriculum B, Empowered Learning Material or learning centres. Curriculum B is an accredited accelerated programme for ages 8 to 15, generally for learners who have been out of school for more than two years; it has four levels and usually takes two academic years, or one year in an accelerated arrangement. Empowered Learning Material, also called ELM, is a non-formal programme for ages 8 to 18 with nine levels of about 24 weeks each and content in Arabic, English and French. Remedial programmes, self-learning and Integrated Learning Centres support Arabic literacy, English and French, examination preparation and transition into formal education. Literacy programmes also serve people over 15 and adults, often through local NGOs, UN-supported projects or the Ministry of Culture. The Higher Institute of Languages at Damascus University offers academic language courses, including Kurdish courses that may be organized in four-week, 40-hour levels meeting three days per week. Further levels depend on each course's capacity and schedule. Private university centres and other providers offer Arabic, English, French, German, Turkish and other languages. Some providers use the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, or CEFR, but Syria has no demonstrated nationwide register that makes all course certificates equivalent. Prices, schedules and availability vary substantially by provider and region. Language examinations connect learning with school progression and higher education. National Grade 9 and Grade 12 examinations include language subjects, while remedial and ELM programmes can provide examination support. The Certificate Equivalency Department of the Ministry of Education in Damascus handles foreign-certificate equivalency. Learners with a non-Arabic educational background may need supplementary Arabic and History or Geography examinations. Missing school records can lead to a placement test that includes Arabic and a foreign language. Registration windows commonly fall in January, July and October, with examinations often held in February, August and November, but current notices control the applicable dates. The Higher Institute of Languages at Damascus University also conducts foreign-language proficiency examinations for some master's and doctoral admissions. Fees and monetary amounts can change quickly; a 2026 notice reported personal registration at 400 new Syrian pounds, while earlier notices reported 40,000 Syrian pounds. Arabic functional literacy supports school access, employment and official communication. English is especially useful for higher education, technical communication, digital resources, NGOs and international projects. French remains relevant through the curriculum and some university pathways. Kurdish is particularly useful for community, family and work communication in northern and northeastern areas. Language learning has greater practical value when combined with vocational training, digital skills and job-specific vocabulary; returnee profiling in 2026 found widespread unemployment and limited access to training and certification. Digital learning can extend access where courses or teachers are unavailable. UNICEF Learning Passport and home-based learning points in Al-Hasakeh have used laptops, projectors, portable power and teacher facilitation, with Arabic and English self-learning content. These programmes reached more than 2,200 children in 2023 and 14,598 children through digital or distance learning in 2025. The British Council provides online resources for adults, young people and children but does not currently offer face-to-face teaching in Syria. Digital courses remain dependent on connectivity, electricity, devices, cost and local support. A single nationwide language-learning system, price list or provider register is not established; access is fragmented among public education, universities, private providers, NGOs, international programmes and informal family or community learning.