Syria is currently in the process of developing its vocational education and training system. The government appreciates that a well-run vocational education and training (VET) system can make a significant contribution to the social and economical development of the country.

Official statistics for 2007 show that the Ministry of Education operated 657 vocational schools nationwide with 114,876 students, and 149 industrial schools with 50,825 students. In 2007, the total number of graduates from VET schools was 26,339.

Government aims

The government’s VET policy is stated in its five year plan and embedded in the relevant ministries’ programmes and activities. It is clear that partnership with other stakeholders is an essential element in setting and achieving VET goals. However, despite recent efforts, it is still a challenge to develop the VET system in Syria. The government aims to establish a commission that will supervise all VET activities, set a national strategy and priorities, promote links with the labour market and avoid unnecessary duplication of effort.

Key institutions

A number of key bodies are responsible for VET activities in Syria, including: The Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Higher Education, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Industry, the Federation of Syrian Chambers of Industry, the Federation of Syrian Chambers of Commerce, the Federation of Chambers of Tourism, Strategy Highlighting And Building Abilities for Business (SHABAB) and the Syrian Enterprise Business Centre.

In addition to private VET providers, Syria has public VET institutions for the following areas: textile industries, food, chemical industries, agricultural machinery, petroleum and minerals, mechanical and electrical engineering, veterinary science, railway engineering, medicine, hotels and telecommunications.