Four years into a crisis that has taken a grim toll on almost all sectors including the educational, Syria’s teachers continue to brave tough odds, assuming extra burdens spawned by extraordinary circumstances.

In a previous statement by Education Minister Hazwan al-Waz, he introduced bleak figures illustrating the losses in lives and establishments that the educational sector suffered. 850 educational cadres and students lost their lives and as many as 5,000 schools became dysfunctional.

On the eve of the Arab Teachers Day, Syria’s teachers affirm in statements to SANA their determination to rise up to the challenges undaunted by the enormity of the task.

“Terrorists seek to bring the educational process to a standstill…This will never happen no matter what,” says defiant Bashar Salameh, a teacher.

Seconding his remarks, Nada al-Sayyad, an English language teacher, says Syria’s teachers won’t be cowed into submission to the will of terrorists, hoping that the unbreakable ties binding Syrians will be further enhanced for them to overcome the crisis.

A statement by the Teachers Syndicate said the occasion carries noble values; not least devotion, sacrifice and perseverance, calling for efforts to dislodge close-minded mentality and stir up national progressive ideologies.

With all indications suggesting that terrorists are intent on pressing ahead with acts to stop the educational process in Syria, the teachers’ resolve to fight back seems to be much more dogged. History has demonstrated, however, that enlightenment had always triumphed over dark forces in the battle of wills.