Three advanced technology schools in Damascus, Aleppo and Homs receive first cohort

Three advanced technology schools in Damascus, Aleppo and Homs are receiving their first cohort for the 2026-2027 school year, with 300 seats in total. Classes are due to start in early November, SANA reported.

President Ahmad al-Sharaa issued Decree No. 183 of 2026 on 7 October, creating the National Advanced Technology Track under the supervision of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The track begins at secondary level and extends to applied and research-based university education. It covers artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, software engineering, robotics, industrial automation, energy and smart manufacturing.

The Ministry of Education announced the admission conditions on 12 October for entry to the first secondary year at the schools. Applications opened in the three governorates from 13 to 17 October. Applicants needed an average of at least 85% in the basic education certificate, or 70% for those holding a certificate from outside Syria.

In Homs, 214 students sat the national standardized test at Abdulhamid al-Zahrawi school, which will select 100 students for the first cohort. In Aleppo, 258 students sat the admission tests. Malak al-Sibai, director of education in Homs, said the test measures mental skills, logical thinking and problem solving, uses multiple-choice questions, and that results will be announced once marking is complete.

Deputy Education Minister Ahmad al-Hasan said the track aims to close the gap between academic education and labour market needs and to let students choose their field of specialization early. He added that the track was created in Damascus, Homs and Aleppo, with plans to expand it horizontally and vertically in the coming years to take in more students in other governorates.