Presidential decree establishes 'National Advanced Technology Pathway' from secondary to university level

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa issued a decree establishing a specialized track in modern technologies to prepare highly qualified technological cadres, starting from the secondary education stage and extending to university-level education. The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that President al-Sharaa issued Decree No. 183 of 2026, which establishes the “National Advanced Technology Track,” under the supervision of the Ministries of Education and Higher Education, in coordination with other relevant ministries.

The track specializes in advanced modern technologies, beginning at the secondary level and extending to applied and research-based university education, ensuring the preparation of highly qualified national cadres in the fields of advanced technology and innovation. According to the decree, specialized schools within the secondary stage, called “Advanced Technology Schools,” will admit students at the beginning of this stage based on a national entrance exam and fair, transparent scientific criteria. Successful graduates will receive a secondary school certificate specializing in Advanced Technology.

Furthermore, public universities will establish a specialized university track for holders of the Advanced Technology secondary certificate, within faculties named “Advanced Technology Faculties,” by decision of the Higher Education Council. The decree orders the establishment of a “specialized track in advanced modern technologies, starting from the secondary stage and extending to applied and research-based university education, ensuring the preparation of highly qualified national cadres in the fields of advanced technology and innovation, and linking with the specific needs of the labor market,” called the “National Advanced Technology Track.” This track will operate under the supervision of the Ministries of Education and Higher Education, in coordination with other relevant ministries.

The track aims to “establish a specialized educational pathway in modern technologies, providing students with advanced scientific and practical preparation in digital and industrial advanced technological specialties, as well as building competent national cadres in technical specialties required by the labor market and the national economy, in addition to reducing the digital divide and enhancing national competitive capabilities in the digital economy.”

It also aims to “link specialized secondary education with an applied university pathway that allows outstanding students to obtain a university degree in a reduced timeframe, localize artificial intelligence technologies, cybersecurity, and other advanced digital and industrial technologies within the national educational system, and establish effective partnerships with universities, the private sector, and technical organizations to ensure the continuous updating of the track’s content and curricula.”