The educational role of Democratic Society Academies in Northern and Eastern Syria

September 8, 2020

September 8, 2020

Isiyan Kamo – Rojava

Akademiyên Civaka Demokratîk (Democratic Society Academies) have spread across Northern and Eastern Syria, opening new branches in several cities.

In the western part of Qamişlo, a centre specialises in sociological and political research. The Navenda Akademiyên Civaka Demokratik, like other such academies, educates and trains people to study issues related to “democratic life” and “democratic nations”.

Gulnaz, Lorin and Ibrahim are some of the academy’s full time staff. Since the academy was established in 2013, they and fellow staff members have published a magazine every six months called “Democratic Society”.

Daily life is especially focused on collective lessons. “In this academy, we offer intellectual and ideological frameworks through which we can analyse and debate issues”, Lorin said.

They analyse, for example, the writings of some of the major figures of the Kurdish revolutionary movement, such as Abdullah Öcalan. “The objective is also to define the system of a Democratic Civilisation and build a new way of life”, Gulnaz said.

To assist in the implementation of the system of a Democratic Civilisation, the Democratic Society Academies in the Jazira canton have created twelve branches, in the cities of Derîk, Terbespiyeh, Çil Axa, Qamişlo, Amûde, Darbasiyeh, Hesseke, Til Kuçer, and Til Hemis. The academies in Hesseke, Til Kuçer and Til Hemis teach in Arabic, as the majority of the people in these areas are Arabic speakers, whilst the remaining academies teach in Kurmanjî.

Kobanê canton has also developed a Democratic Society Academies system, with branches located in Kobanê, Gîrê Spî and Sirîn. New academies have also been established in some recent conflict zones such as Tabqa (Raqqa area) and Deir-Ezzor, and more are planned in the future.

Ibrahim, a staff member of the academies system, added: “In the recently liberated areas, we have a strong desire to establish new academies. Once the situation becomes more stable, we will begin teaching there too”.

The Democratic Society Academies continue to train new students every year and are constantly updating their libraries so that they possess a significant body of political and sociological works. The academies have been established to educationally cater to the needs of the Self-Administration of Northern and Eastern Syria as well as its peoples.