Syrians fear sending kids to schools amid ongoing violence

As the Syrian government insisted that schools will open on time -- Sept. 16, Syrian families have shown extreme concerns about the safety of their children in light of the continuing violence in almost all Syrian cities. "I will not jeopardize their lives and I am even thinking about not sending them at all to schools this year... maybe next year when matters get better," said Hani Salman, a doctor, when asked to which school he will send his two boys, six and eight respectively. There have been mounting skepticisms by Syrians whether schools will open on time, especially following the government's recent revelation that as many as 2,000 schools are currently damaged and 350 thousands Syrians fleeing violence are seeking shelter at 759 schools. However, Syria's Education Minister Hozwan al-Wiz ruled out the idea of delaying the new academic year and reasserted that schools will open on the given time. "Minister, do you really have the ability to open schools at the set time?" read one post on a pro-government Syrian news website, in comment over the news that the school will open on time. The spiraling violence in some Syrian cities has forced more than two million Syrians to flee to safer places, mainly in the capital Damascus. Some opted to stay with their relatives, some used schools as a temporary sanctuary and others fled to neighboring states. Most students have quitted their private schools in the countryside of Damascus and some families opted to move their children to government schools inside the capital. Some of the wealthier families have registered their children at classy schools in neighboring countries, mainly Lebanon. "Where the displaced Syrians will go?" the Syrians asked, while the government's cleansing operations of hot areas from rebels haven't finished so far. "If the government's goal is to send a message that things are normal through opening schools, it would be better for it to create first the normal climates for opening schools," read one post on "Syria Steps," a news website, while another one said "Be frank with your people who is eager to learn but on safe seats."