In Syria.. – Syrian Stairs

Series of steps

Fadi Bey Sharif:

The Faculty of Media and the Faculty of Political Science have begun developing a standardized test model approved by the Ministry of Higher Education, which will be used in the selection of admissions to the two aforementioned faculties in the next academic year, through a committee established to oversee the development of a standardized test with a number of questions that take into account the skills, level and general culture of the students.

Mohammed Hassoun, Dean of the Faculty of Political Science at Damascus University, revealed that the 100 questions have been started and half of them will be selected to take the 60-minute standard test to be scheduled soon. In coordination with the President of Damascus University and the Ministry of Higher Education, the university admission comparison for the next academic year will be announced.

Hassoon confirmed that a special secret committee was formed to focus on three axes, including “Syria’s history, general development, and issues taking into account the general culture of students”, and mentioned that 50% is the success rate of the survey. For students who wish to apply to the Faculty of Political Science, their grades and aspirations are compared with the average grades of the students’ secondary school certificates.

The Dean of the Faculty of Political Science expects that the number of admissions to the Faculty will drop below 400 this year, especially since the standardized tests will “screen out” some students, preventing them from applying. Even if their grades have the power to do so, they explained that the exams will not call for a special meeting of the Council of Ministers to discuss the level of complexity, but instead the questions will be simple and objective in order to distinguish students from each other.

He added: For example, if we enroll about 200 or 250 students this year who are well-qualified and have better aspirations, information and skills than 400 students, then there is no criterion for determining their level, especially because from the first to the fourth year there are about 100 male and female students.

In this context, Hassoon explained that the curriculum plan is being developed to keep pace with the changes and developments that are taking place, noting that there are 44 courses in total and that new subjects can be added, others merged or some eliminated from the curriculum, which requires the approval of the relevant academic council so that it can be studied and submitted to the two committees of the university and the Higher Education Commission.

Baraa Shuqair, dean of the Faculty of Mass Communication at Damascus University, said that questions were set first, focusing on language talent, skills, communication awareness and general culture in media topics and basic knowledge.

Shuqair confirmed that there is no oral exam but a standard test consisting of 50 questions lasting 60 minutes to test students who wish to apply for admission to the School of Mass Communication, besides, Arabic and English language tests are also emphasized for admission.

The dean of the college explained that it is expected that the number of admissions to the competition this year will be lower than last year after the implementation of standardized tests, especially since the college admitted about 400 students in its first year last year, and it is in the student’s interest to know to what extent the major is suitable for his abilities, desires and inclinations.

The Minister of Higher Education recently met with the deans of the two colleges to review the educational policies and mechanisms used in recent years for university admissions, focusing on specific majors, the need to revise programs and curricula, and develop some programs training and qualifications, both in the government and private sectors, to obtain practical skills for graduates to enter the labor market, in order to achieve the best employment of university absorption policies in a way that benefits students and graduates. Achieving efficiency and fairness, which is reflected in the field of higher education.

It is worth noting that many colleges also consider talent factors when recruiting students. For example, the School of Architecture measures students through talent examinations, as well as the School of Fine Arts, the School of Physical Education, the School of Music, etc. I hope to apply for the English and French departments.