The Syrian authorities have granted permission to the Damascus Jewish school of “Al-Ittihad Al-Ahlieh” to teach French in four of its six classes. Primary schools throughout Syria are generally allowed to teach foreign languages in only the three top classes and even then, for only a limited number of hours. The “Al-Ittihad Al-Ahlieh” school has 350 pupils and is jointly supported by the local Jewish community and the Alliance Israelite Universelle. Alliance circles in Paris desorbed the measure, which will be applied this school term already as “a definite liberalization.” Another Jewish school in Damascus under the control of the local Jewish community also holds regular Hebrew classes. It is not know whether the liberalization move will affect if also. All private schools in Syria, including the two Jewish ones are controlled by the state.
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