In a new report by the Alma Research and Education Center, a little-noticed but deeply concerning transformation is underway in Syria’s education sector under the regime of Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa
At the center of this development is “Dar al-Wahy al-Sharif,” an Islamist education network directly linked to the jihadist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). What began as a limited system of kindergartens and elementary schools has now been formalized as an official education network under the al-Sharaa regime.
The network promotes religious-militant indoctrination from a very young age. The Qur’an forms the core of the curriculum, while jihadist messages are embedded in school ceremonies, events, and daily instruction. Strict gender segregation is enforced, alongside a rigid religious dress code that requires girls to wear abayas and niqabs.
One of the most alarming findings is the speed and stealth of the network’s expansion. Since 2017, Dar al-Wahy al-Sharif has grown rapidly in the Idlib region. Following the collapse of the Assad regime in December 2024, the network expanded dramatically within a single year to more than 70 active schools across Syria, including Aleppo, Damascus, Hama, Homs, Deraa, and Latakia.