Fatima (pseudonym) is a woman from Deir Ezzor countryside, thirty-seven years old, and a mother of four children. Fatima narrated the story of her deprivation of education. She told the story with fervently since her childhood to the present as she described: “I did not receive an education despite my passion for learning and my love for going to school because the school was far away from my home. The nearest school took a full hour to walk to on foot”.
Fatima’s family did not help her achieve her dream of learning despite all the attempts to convince her otherwise. “I was insisting that I could walk to school with the rest of the students since there was no public transportation for the school. However, my father strongly refused, expressing the futility of this and stressing that education is not necessary for girls, considering that the fate of women is housework and childcare. He used to repeat to me: “When men get married, they choose girls who do not leave their house for any reason and have not been in contact with other people”.
| Girls in many areas of Syria, especially Deir Ezzor, are often denied access to education due to traditional gender roles and societal expectations, in addition to economic conditions and the lack of adequate schools and educational staff in some areas. Here, males are usually preferred over females in obtaining limited educational opportunities. |
Fatima said: “What made me even more sad was that my male siblings went to school with encouragement from my family to gain knowledge, which made me feel discriminated against. I always wondered, is discrimination between males and females a natural thing that should be accepted and that males have double the rights of females?”.
| “Autumn is one of my favorite seasons as it reminds me of the start of school, the smell of books, the sound of school bells, and the noise of children.” |
Fatima encountered challenges in teaching her children because she had not completed her education: “I was unable to read or write enough to help my children with their homework. I do not have the financial means to hire a tutor to follow my children’s education at home. Additionally, I am not a working woman to help my husband with household expenses since there are very few opportunities available to work and earn for women without educational qualifications. So, it is difficult to get a decent work during these difficult times.”
| “My inability to read and write always saddens me. I hope that all girls have access to education and overcome the obstacles I faced”. |
Denying Fatima an education had a profound impact on her family as her husband was also unable to read or write, limiting his employment opportunities and potential. As a result, the family suffered financially, making it difficult to support the children and meet their basic needs.
Fatima’s story highlights the devastating impact that deprivation of education can have on individuals and families. As the lack of education can perpetuate cycles of poverty, illiteracy, and inequality that can be difficult to break. Fatima said: “After the war, I became more aware of the importance of education for girls, especially for women who lost their husbands and their basic breadwinner. This has put them in a difficult position, as they do not have an income or academic certificate that qualifies them to seek employment opportunities.”
| “In the past, girls’ education was of no importance, but the women of my generation and I see its impact on our lives. We want a better future, especially access to education and the opportunities it provides.” |
In her view, Fatima believes that the most important recommendations to prevent other girls from facing the same obstacles they face are the importance of providing access to education for girls, especially by building schools closer to their homes, and suggesting more support for women who have been deprived of education, including training and skills development programs that would help them find work, support their families, and intensify the work of organizations in literacy programs.
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“I want my voice to reach all the people in Deir Ezzor so that they know that education is the key to a better future for their daughters. Education is not just about getting a job. Education empowers girls with awareness and the ability to think critically and make beneficial decisions for their lives. They become more capable of fully participating in their communities.” |
Fatima’s story is a reminder of the work that needs to be done to ensure that every girl and woman has access to education and the opportunities it provides. By investing in education, we can break cycles of poverty and inequality and empowering individuals and communities to reach their full potential.
