In some Syrian universities, less than 10 percent of students are present.

In some Syrian universities, less than 10 percent of students are present.

Syria’s Education Ministry recently published detailed directives on finding and punishing students who have forged diplomas — another action by which the regime seeks to show that the areas under its control are being properly run.

It’s believed that more than 100,000 students are looking for alternatives to studying in Syria, and thousands more are applying to universities in Turkey, Jordanand Lebanon. Syrian education officials who have been interviewed in the media admit that the forged documents aren’t the most serious problem. Worse are the issues of paying tuitions, finding talented teachers and updating instructional materials, amid a serious dearth of job opportunities for university graduates.

In some Syrian universities, less than 10 percent of students are present. Most prefer to study in faculties where they aren’t required to attend class so they can work for a living. The problem is that these are mainly the humanities and social-science faculties, which can’t promise a proper job either now or in some hazy future after the war when skilled workers will be needed to rebuild the country.