Armenians in Syria - Education

Education

The education is an important factor in maintaining Armenian language and patriotism among the Armenian community in Syria. Aleppo as the main host of he community, is a center of Armenian long-running schools and cultural institutions. Armenian students who graduate from those community schools, can immediately enter the Syrian university system, after passing the official Thanawiya 'Amma (High School baccalaureate) exams.

A total of 9 schools operate in the northern city of Aleppo including four secondary schools:

  • Karen Jeppe Armenian College, the first Armenian secondary school in Aleppo. It was opened in 1947 on a piece of land in Meydan quarter transferred to the Armenian Prelacy by the will of the Danish philanthropist Karen Jeppe. The school was founded by the initiative of then-bishop Zareh Payaslian (the future Catholicos Zareh I of the Holy See of Cilicia). The school building has been expanded gradually in 1966, 1973 and 1986. Nowadays, the college has more than 1,100 mixed students with only secondary section of six grades. The school is operating under the direct administration of the Armenian prelacy of Aleppo.
  • Lazar Nadjarian-Calouste Gulbenkian Armenian Central High School, was founded as Lazar Nadjarian Central School in 1954 by the efforts of the Armenian General Benevolent Union. It was turned into a high school with a secondary section in 1959 and renamed as Lazar Nadjarian-Calouste Gulbenkian Central High School. The elementary and the secondary sections are located in two adjacent buildings, while the kindergarten has its own newly erected building. The school has more than 1,500 mixed students and is operating under the administration of the Syrian Regional Central Committee of the Armenian General Benevolent Union. The school has its own theatre hall named after its benefactor "Kevork Hagop Nazarian".
  • Cilician (Giligian) Armenian High School, a 12 grade mixed high school founded in 1921. It has three sections: nursery, elementary and secondary, each of them has its own separate building located along the Sissi alley of the old Christian quarter of Jdeydeh. At the beginning, the school was founded in 1921 as Cilician Refugees School by the efforts of the Cilician Relief Association. In 1930, it was renamed Cilician School and subsequently; Cilician High School after the foundation of the secondary section in 1960. The Cilician School is operating under the administration of Cilician Cultural Association with more than 450 mixed students.
  • Gertasirats High School, founded in 1924 as Aintab’s Gertasirats Mixed School by the efforts of "Aintab's Gertasirats Association". Up to 1974, the school was operating in the old Christian quarter near Jdeydeh, when it was moved to a new modern building in Suleimanyeh area. It has a kindergarten, an elementary section, and since 2004; a secondary section. The school is under the administration of Gertasirats Cultural Association, and has more than 300 mixed students. Adjacent to the school, the Armenian church of the Holy Mother of God was opened in 1983. The school has its own "Zohrab Kaprielian" theatre hall, one of the largest ones in Aleppo.

Other Elementary schools in Aleppo under the administration of the prelacy:

  • Haygazian Elementary School, established in 1919. the school is considered to be the continuation of the "Tebradoun" (est. in 1876) and the Nersessian School. Located within the complex of the Forty Martyrs Cathedral in Jdeydeh quarter, the school has a six-years mixed elementary section with more than 800 students. The kindergarten is operating in the Meydan quarter. The school has a theatre hall named after Avetis Aharonian.
  • Mesropian Elementary School, was a six-year elementary school closed in 2011. At the beginning, the school was opened in Suleimaniyeh's Armenian refuge camp of Ram in 1923 and was known as the Camp's Mesropian Mixed School. In 1936, it was relocated to the Armenian populated Meydan quarter as a part of the proposed Surp Kevork Church complex (eventually consecrated in 1965). The nursery section of the school was operating in a small building adjacent to the Surp Kevork church. In 2003, the total number of the students of the mixed school was 200.
  • Zavarian Elementary School, originally founded as Nersessian School in 1925 with a centre adult orphans. On 15 August 1936, the two sections have been merged in one building in the Meydan quarter. The new school, along with its theatre hall were renamed after Simon Zavarian. The building was totally renovated in 1965. Nowadays, it has a six-years mixed elementary section and a kindergarten. The total number of the students is more than 450.
  • Sahakian Elementary School, founded in 1927 by the donation of the Armenian diaspora of India and Brazil. It was named after Catholicos Sahak II Khabayan of the Holy See of Cilicia. It is located in the Meydan quarter since 1932 within the complex of Saint Gregory Armenian church. The school was expanded in 1962 with the erection of a new building. Nowadays, the school has a six-years mixed elementary section and a kindergarten with more than 850 the student.
  • Gulbenkian Elementary School, founded on 22 September 1930 as Boghos Gulbenkian school by the donation of the Armenian benefactor Nerses Gulbenkian from London. Up to 1996, the school was operating in a small building located in a narrow street in the Suleimanyeh area. On 13 June 1997, the new modern building of the school was inaugurated Suleimaniyeh area with the presence of Catholicos Aram I. Nowadays, the school has a six-years elementary section and a kindergarten with more than 500 mixed students. The school has its own "Kevork Yesayan" theatre hall.

Outside Aleppo:

  • Yeprad (Euphrates) School, Qamishli, founded in 1932 and has 9 grades since 1962. Currently, it has more than 900 students.
  • Azadutyun (Liberty) School, Al-Malikiyah (Dayrik)
  • Mesrobian School, Al-Hasakah
  • Nahadagats (Martyrs') School, Ra's al-'Ayn
  • Khorenian School, Tal Abyad
  • Noubarian School, Ar-Raqqah
  • Veradzenount (Rebirth) School, Yacoubiyah
  • Nahadagats (Martyrs') School, Lattakia
  • Usumnasirats Miyatsyal School, Kesab
  • Tarkmanchats (Holy Translators) School, Damascus
  • Usumnasirats School, Damascus
  • AGBU Gyullabi Gulbenkian School, Damascus
  • Isahakian School, Homs

Read more about this topic:  Armenians In Syria

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