SANLIURFA, Turkey — As military clashes rage in Raqqa’s countryside and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) recapture land from Islamic State militants, Syrians are making plans for life after the jihadis are expelled. On April 2, a group of teachers from Raqqa held a meeting at the headquarters of the Center of Civil Society and Democracy in Urfa, southern Turkey, to discuss the resumption of education in Raqqa.
The attendees addressed effective and modern teaching tools that should be introduced to the educational process after three years of suspension. Since IS took over Raqqa on Jan. 14, 2014, all schools closed their doors, and IS turned some into jails or security centers.