Employees of departments affiliated with the Directorate of Education in Suwayda, southern Syria, announced a strike on Tuesday, April 7, in protest after an armed group stormed the directorate building the previous day.
The local platform Suwayda Press reported that the deputy directors of education and heads of departments at the Directorate of Education announced the suspension of work at the directorate until further notice.
Those behind the strike said the move came in rejection of the events witnessed at the directorate and the armed assault against their male and female colleagues working there. They called for “a proper investigation into the incident by the relevant authorities, accountability, and penalties for anyone proven to be involved.”
Enab Baladi’s correspondent said the Directorate of Education in Suwayda witnessed a wide strike involving both administrative and teaching staff, in protest against the armed raid on the building on Monday.
A local source told Enab Baladi’s correspondent that the directorate was closed during the morning hours because employees refused to report to work, in response to calls issued by education groups, including the Salkhad Teachers’ Group, which called for an open strike in rejection of what it described as “chaos and the use of weapons inside an educational institution.”
The correspondent added that the group, in a statement, called for an “urgent and transparent” investigation to hold all those involved accountable, ensure the protection of teachers, and secure a safe educational environment. It also stressed the need to keep educational work away from any tensions, describing it as a purely civil activity.
She also noted that protests extended to several schools, where some teachers held sit-ins before classes began, expressing their rejection of any assault on educational institutions and stressing that “the dignity of teachers and students is a red line.”
She pointed out that the Second School for Outstanding Students announced the suspension of classes starting Wednesday, April 8, until further notice, in protest against the deterioration of the educational situation, warning of the impact of current conditions on the recognition of secondary school certificates and students’ academic future.
In contrast, the Directorate of Education in Suwayda issued a statement on Tuesday morning saying that no official decision had been made to suspend work, adding that normal operations were continuing in schools and affiliated departments, and calling on the public not to be misled by what it described as “inaccurate news.”
These developments come amid escalating tensions in the province’s education sector, as civil society voices in Suwayda increasingly call for protecting educational institutions and preserving the stability of the educational process.
Armed raid
The Directorate of Education in Suwayda witnessed tensions after an armed group entered the building and attacked employees.
Local sources told Enab Baladi’s correspondent in Suwayda that the armed assault on the directorate was an attempt to prevent employees from continuing their work, following a decision to replace the director of education.
The developments came after the Syrian Ministry of Education issued a decision on April 1 appointing Safwan Ballan as director of education in Suwayda, replacing Laila Jahjah, a move that sparked controversy in the city.
Employees at the directorate refused to leave the building, leading to tensions and gunfire at the entrance in an apparent attempt to intimidate staff and force them to leave.
Enab Baladi’s correspondent said a number of employees and directorate officials went to the Internal Security Command in Suwayda, affiliated with the spiritual leadership, to file a complaint over the incident, while no official clarification had yet been issued.
The local outlet Suwayda 24 had reported that the armed group belonged to the security office of the National Guard, which is affiliated with the spiritual leadership.
Meanwhile, newly appointed education director Safwan Ballan stepped down from his duties after the incident, saying he did so to avoid internal division in Suwayda and in deference to the decision of the spiritual leader of the Druze community, Hikmat al-Hijri.
In a post on Facebook, Ballan said he had accepted the role to meet the demands of educational staff and institutions, not out of personal ambition for the position.
“Legal Committee” dissolved
The spiritual leader of the Druze community, Hikmat al-Hijri, announced the dissolution of the “Supreme Legal Committee” and the formation of the “Administrative Council in Jabal Bashan,” tasking Judge Shadi Murshid with establishing it.
According to a statement published by the spiritual leadership of the Druze community on Tuesday, April 7, the move comes as part of a new phase of organization following the challenges the province has faced since the events of July 2025.
The statement said the current administration is a “crisis administration” aimed at rescuing society from the repercussions of the “siege and the recent aggression,” securing decent living conditions for residents, and protecting internal security from any attempts to break the social fabric.
The “Supreme Legal Committee” and the National Guard had been managing Suwayda’s administrative affairs. Both bodies are affiliated with the Druze spiritual leadership after the legal committee, in October 2025, rejected any intervention by what it called the “Damascus government” in Suwayda’s affairs.
if you think the article contain wrong information or you have additional details
