Christian schools reopen in Syria after 60 years

Two Christian schools, named Terra Sancta, have reopened in the Syrian villages of Knaye and Yacoubieh within the Idlib governorate after nearly sixty years of closure. The schools were originally established in 1958 but were taken over in 1972.

Following the withdrawal of military forces and the fall of the Assad government, the buildings—which had served as refugee shelters for a decade—underwent extensive renovation. Supported by church associations, the NGO Pro Terra Sancta, and the Franciscan friars of the Custody of the Holy Land, approximately 80% of the facilities have been restored.

The educational cycle is now split between the two locations: the Yacoubieh building serves children aged three to ten, while the Knaye building hosts students aged ten to seventeen. The project has also provided employment opportunities for local families and young people in the region.