LocationsGermany and UNDP Inaugurate School in Rural Damascus Supporting Equitable Access to Quality Education
May 28, 2025
Damascus, 28 May 2025 – The Director General Asia, Latin America, Middle East, Eastern/South Eastern Europe at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Ms Christine Toetzke; the Director Middle East at KfW Development Bank, Mr Marc Engelhardt; the Minister of Education Dr Mohammad Abdul Rahman Turko, and the United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative, Mr Sudipto Mukerjee inaugurated the Saqba Middle School in Rural Damascus. This inauguration marks a significant step in support of the education sector in Syria, with the school set to provide quality education and job opportunities for the local community for years to come.
“We wish this project contributes to the development of a resilient community, where young minds are promoted in an inclusive learning environment, talents discovered and a broad basis of a bright future of the students is provided, ” BMZ Director General Christine Toetzke.
The rehabilitation of Saqba Middle School is part of the US$130 million Partnerships for Prospects Programme, funded by the Government of Germany, in support of job creation for resilience building in Syria. The school underwent substantial renovations, resulting in 840 students gaining equitable access to quality education in an inclusive learning environment.
UNDP Resident Representative, Sudipto Mukerjee, acknowledged the longstanding partnership UNDP has with Germany in support of the resilience of the people in Syria. He emphasised that supporting access to quality education and other essential services is a key part of our contribution to the future of Syria. “The opening of the school comes at a critical time when education needs are high. There are around 2.4 million children out of school in Syria, and over a million at risk of dropping out, particularly those with disabilities. With Germany’s generous contribution, we are able to create jobs and provide quality education to students in Saqba in an inclusive learning environment that encourages them to stay at school”, said Sudipto Mukerjee, UNDP Resident Representative.
The rehabilitation of the school addressed the community's needs, as there was no middle school in the city, and students had to travel 2.4 km to surrounding areas to attend already overcrowded schools. Rehabilitation works covered three floors encompassing 22 classrooms, eight administration rooms, a laboratory, one art and one ICT room, in addition to the schoolyard and its beautification. The school is now equipped with modern teaching aids, a library, and a sports ground. Eighty-three jobs were created throughout the process for workers, technicians, engineering supervisors, etc.
The ceremony included a tour of the school, a meeting with some students and the local community, as well as an engagement with some of the beneficiaries who benefited from the professions revival project in Arbin subdistrict, where 70 professional workshops, including 20 owned by persons with disabilities (PWDs), were supported with German funding, in addition to the assistive devices, enabling them to overcome their disabilities and enhance their access to employment opportunities.
It is worth noting that since 2014, UNDP’s partnership with the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), through its Development Bank KfW, supported millions of people across the country through the rehabilitation of basic and social infrastructure, created 68,000 emergency jobs, including 14,500 for women, and generated more than 33,000 longer-term employment opportunities, including 12,500 for women.
Media contacts:
Dania Darwish | Communications Specialist | Syria Country Office | dania.darwish@undp.org
Joelle Ahmar | Communications Specialist | KfW Office Beirut | joelle.ahmar@kfw.de
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