Western sanctions on Syria have restricted student access to most online platforms that provide essential tools, technology, and software, placing Syrian students at a disadvantage, making them less competitive compared to their peers in other countries.
On the roof of an old building in Damascus, the Syria Astronomical Society — the only institution in the country that teaches space science — organizes various activities for children.
Children come here to catch a glimpse of the moon and stars, gaining knowledge and developing a passion for space. It's an experience unavailable anywhere else in Syria.
"I've been fascinated by space since I was very young. Now, I'm interested in viewing the stars and space through a telescope, and I finally found a place in Syria that offers this experience," said Aram, a 10-year-old visitor.
Space science isn't part of the Syrian school curriculum, so the facility provides the only platform where children can pursue their dreams.
However, these activities are hampered by Western sanctions, which ban the import of telescopes into Syria and block access to essential software and websites.
Muhammad Alusairy, head of the Syrian Astronomical Society, expressed frustration over the sanctions, stating that educational tools should not be targeted, as this unfairly punishes children.
"We wanted to purchase a large telescope, but due to the sanctions, we were unable to do so. We've joined the International Astronomical Union and won several prizes, but we couldn't receive them because of the sanctions. One of our biggest challenges now is the difficulty in importing equipment," said Alusairy.
To provide observational activities for children, the facility relies on two outdated telescopes, which were imported piece by piece and assembled by local staff. There are no computerized telescopes available, let alone AI-driven equipment.
University students also struggle under these restrictions. Jaffar Shakkas, a 23-year-old computer engineering student, describes his university's curriculum as outdated, lacking the newer technologies necessary for daily use.
"There's constantly new information and updates in the world. Many of the educational websites I need to access are either blocked or unavailable because I'm in Syria," said Jaffar.
Error messages like "Forbidden" or "Error 403" prevent students like Jaffar from accessing critical resources. With the financial system blocked and VPNs inaccessible for Syrian-registered numbers, gaining access to these tools requires time and money. Jaffar recounted that it took him a month and four times the usual cost to access one online course.
"For us, there are two halves of the world: one half is inside Syria, and the other is outside. There's a line that separates students here from those outside," said Jaffar.
Though the sanctions are intended to weaken the Syrian government, they are affecting all levels of Syrian society. Disruptions to education have both immediate and long-term consequences, impacting the Syrian children and students who will one day shape the country's future.
Western sanctions hinder Syrian students' access to education, technology
China Media Group (CMG) held a dialogue on Friday in Bogota, the capital of Colombia, bringing together political, business, academic, and media representatives to explore the opportunities that China's high-quality development presents for the world, particularly for developing countries.
The event was part of CMG's "China in Spring Time: Sharing Opportunities with the World" Global Dialogue series and gathered about 150 representatives from both China and Colombia for in-depth exchanges.
Speaking via video link, CMG President Shen Haixiong noted that China's annual "two sessions" showcased the country's vitality in a new era. The two sessions refer to the annual meetings of China's national legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC), and the top political advisory body, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).
At this year's "two sessions," Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the need to steadily expand institutional opening-up and continuously broaden space for international cooperation, Shen said. He added that China will continue to open even wider to the world.
Chinese Ambassador to Colombia, Zhu Jingyang, said the recently concluded "two sessions" attracted global attention. He emphasized that China will remain committed to high-quality development and high-level opening-up, providing fresh momentum for the recovery and growth of the global economy.
This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Colombia, as well as the 10th anniversary of the official operation of the China-CELAC Forum, said Zhu.
He added that China and Colombia should seize this opportunity and uphold the principles of equality, mutual benefit, and win-win cooperation to build a better future for their relations and usher in a new chapter in the China-Latin America community with a shared future.
"More than expectations, we have come to reaffirm the national government's willingness to strengthen this strategic relationship between the two nations. Clearly, it is focused on trade, and on readjusting trade conditions, so to speak, in accordance with the existing agreement," said Cielo Rusinque, current Superintendent of Colombia's Superintendency of Industry and Commerce.
Guillermo Puyana, President of the Colombia-China Friendship Association, said the world seeks to understand China's modernization path through the information released during the "two sessions."
He added that Colombia has admired China's development philosophy and achievements since the two countries established diplomatic relations 45 years ago, and that China's commitment to peaceful development holds great significance for Colombia and other Latin American nations.
"The important investments from China in technology and infrastructure, as well as the strategic relationship and economic benefits that the Chinese development model brings to countries like Colombia, [hold very important significance]," said Puyana.
Colombian youth representative Julio Andres Saavedra said that with China's assistance, the construction of Bogota Metro Line 1 is in full swing, helping Colombia realize its dream of building a metro system on the plateau.
Guests attending the dialogue also viewed the international promotional video for China's blockbuster animated film "Ne Zha 2".
Many local mainstream media outlets in Colombia, such as the Colombian National Television and El Tiempo, reported on the dialogue.
CMG hosts dialogue in Colombia on opportunities from China's high-quality development
