Academic Oversight
Developing educational strategies, monitoring instructional performance, evaluating teaching quality, and supporting faculty through continuous professional development.
ARMENIAN PROTESTANT COUNCIL IN SYRIA
The Educational Council
The highest educational authority of the Armenian Protestant community, guiding academic policy, institutional governance, and long term educational development across Syria.
SCOPE OF WORK AND RESPONSIBILITIES
An Integrated Framework of Oversight
The Council oversees the educational sector through a structured set of responsibilities that ensures quality, efficiency, accountability, and long term institutional progress.
Operational and Logistical Management
Ensuring the readiness of school facilities, addressing operational needs, and coordinating resources to maintain institutional efficiency.
Financial Governance
Supervising financial planning and resource allocation while ensuring transparency, accountability, and long term sustainability.
Institutional Development
Designing long term strategic plans to advance the schools’ academic and social roles and strengthen their impact within the wider community.
MISSION AND VISION
Guided by values, built for the future
The Educational Council is committed to high quality education grounded in spiritual and human values, while creating an environment that supports intellectual growth, ethical responsibility, and social engagement.
MISSION
Preparing capable and responsible generations
The Council is dedicated to providing high quality education grounded in the spiritual and human values of the community. Its mission is to prepare capable, aware, and responsible generations equipped to contribute meaningfully to society.
VISION
A modern, safe, and inspiring educational environment
The Council envisions a modern, safe, and inspiring educational environment that nurtures intellectual growth, ethical responsibility, and social engagement, while reinforcing the schools’ role as educational and cultural pillars within Syrian society.
ROLE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY
Strengthening presence through education
The Educational Council strengthens the presence and contribution of the Armenian Protestant Community within Syria’s educational landscape by supporting its schools, developing academic and cultural programs, and building partnerships with local and international institutions.
Through these efforts, it ensures the continuity and vitality of its educational mission across generations, reinforcing the schools’ role as trusted spaces for learning, character formation, and community identity.
School Support
Academic Programs
Cultural Initiatives
Partnership Building
LEADERSHIP AND OVERSIGHT
Responsible Officers
The Educational Council operates through a structured administrative framework, led by experienced professionals who support institutional coordination, governance, reporting, and continuous improvement across affiliated schools.
Educational Council
Araz Mansourian Shahinian
Executive Secretary, Educational Council
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Professional Biography
Araz Mansourian Shahinian has been serving the Armenian Protestant Community in Syria since 2010, when she began her professional career as an accountant at Bethel Church. In this role, she developed extensive expertise in financial management, accounting systems development, and ensuring procedural accuracy and transparent reporting.
In 2014, she was appointed Executive Secretary of the Educational Council, a position she continues to hold alongside her financial responsibilities. Through the integration of financial and administrative expertise, she oversees key aspects of the schools affiliated with the council, including administrative coordination, support of educational subcommittees, supervision of workflow, and ensuring adherence to organizational standards.
Through her structured leadership and disciplined approach, she plays an important role in maintaining operational stability and strengthening the institutional performance of the Educational Council.
Professional Vision
Araz believes that structured administration and sound educational governance form the cornerstone of every successful educational institution. Her vision focuses on enhancing operational efficiency within the institutions of the Educational Council and developing effective coordination and follow up mechanisms to ensure an organized and productive learning environment.
She is committed to transparency, teamwork, and adherence to professional standards, values she considers essential for elevating educational quality and supporting the council’s mission within the community.
LEADERSHIP AND OVERSIGHT
Responsible Officers
The Educational Council operates through a structured administrative framework, led by experienced professionals who support institutional coordination, governance, reporting, and continuous improvement across affiliated schools.
Educational Council
Talar Tabbakh
Assistant to the Executive Secretary
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About
Talar Tabbakh serves as the Assistant to the Executive Secretary of the Educational Council. Her professional approach is grounded in the belief that educational work is a human centered mission built on clarity, commitment, and professionalism. In her role, she supports administrative and educational operations and contributes to maintaining effective communication between schools, councils, and parents.
With a background in quality engineering and evaluation, she applies systematic methodologies in data analysis, reporting, and workflow development. This approach strengthens follow up processes, enhances documentation, and supports objective evaluation of educational initiatives.
Roles and Contributions
- Supporting the Executive Secretary in managing files, official correspondence, and meeting minutes.
- Coordinating communication between schools and stakeholders to ensure smooth implementation of decisions.
- Preparing and analyzing educational and administrative reports based on quality principles.
- Following up on council recommendations and documenting progress.
- Contributing to program planning and evaluating initiatives aimed at improving educational outcomes.
- Promoting teamwork and fostering an organized and transparent work environment.
Vision
Her professional vision focuses on contributing to an educational environment rooted in quality, organization, and humanity. She is committed to strengthening a culture of continuous improvement, supporting decision making through accurate information, and developing administrative processes that are efficient and sustainable.
Personal Statement
Her work reflects strong personal values and a deep commitment to serving the community. Every task is approached with dedication and attention to detail, guided by the belief that meaningful change begins with small, consistent steps.
SCHOOLS AFFILIATED WITH THE COUNCIL
A network of six institutions across Syria
The Council oversees a network of schools committed to academic excellence and strong ethical formation. Each institution provides a safe and supportive environment staffed by qualified educators and dedicated personnel.
Aleppo College for Girls
Aleppo
293
Students
44
Teachers & Staff
Armenian Evangelical Emmanuel School
Aleppo
231
Students
30
Teachers & Staff
Syriac Evangelical School
Aleppo
235
Students
30
Teachers & Staff
Armenian Evangelical Bethel Secondary School
Aleppo
214
Students
69
Teachers & Staff
Armenian Evangelical Martyrs School
Kessab
76
Students
17
Teachers & Staff
Al-Hayat School
Damascus
106
Students
15
Teachers & Staff
AFFILIATED INSTITUTIONS
The schools and their educational work
The following institutions operate under the supervision of the Educational Council. Each school reflects the Council’s academic standards, administrative framework, and commitment to ethical formation and educational excellence.
The next section presents an overview of each institution, its educational scope, and its contribution to the broader mission of the Armenian Protestant Community in Syria.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
Armenian Evangelical Bethel Secondary School — Aleppo
Academic discipline
Values formation
Continuity
Historic school • Structured education • Community service
Founded in 1923 by Hovhannes Haidostian, Bethel School has been a cornerstone of Christian education in Aleppo for more than a century. The institution provides structured primary and secondary education within a disciplined, values-oriented academic environment.
The school continued operating throughout the Syrian conflict, maintaining academic structure and stability during periods of severe disruption. Today, it serves approximately 650 students and offers structured tuition assistance for families facing economic hardship.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
Aleppo College for Girls’ School
Academic excellence
Character formation
Girls’ education
Secondary education for girls • Protestant tradition • Leadership formation
This girls’ secondary program continues the historic educational tradition associated with Aleppo College, reflecting the long-standing Protestant commitment to academic excellence and responsible character formation.
The school has historically served community students alongside the wider local context, contributing to educational opportunity, leadership development, and the advancement of women’s education.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
Syriac Evangelical School — Aleppo
Accessible education
Diverse student body
Evangelical roots
Founded as “Barakat School” • Primary education • Community service
Established in 1932 under the name “Barakat School,” this institution served as an Armenian Evangelical school in its early years and later became known as the Syriac Evangelical School as local demographics evolved.
Today, the school maintains a primary education focus and continues to serve a diverse student population, reflecting the Protestant commitment to accessible education, responsible formation, and community stability.
The Armenian Evangelical Martyrs School — Kessab
Founded 1852 • Kessab • Kindergarten & Primary Education
Accessible education
Safe environment
Evangelical roots
Founded in 1852 • Foundational education • Partnership with families
The Armenian Evangelical Martyrs School in Kessab was founded in 1852. Across generations, it has sustained its educational mission through major historical transitions, with a clear focus on foundational learning and student formation grounded in moral and religious values.
At present, the school serves 76 students in a safe, supportive, student-centered environment. The administration is committed to continuous improvement by supporting the teaching staff, implementing meaningful educational and extracurricular activities, and strengthening cooperation with parents to ensure academic progress and personal growth.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
Armenian Evangelical Emmanuel School — Aleppo
Historic roots
Foundational learning
Christian values
One of the oldest Protestant schools • Foundational education • Community integration
Established in 1855 as part of the growing Armenian Protestant community in Aleppo, Emmanuel School is one of the oldest Armenian Protestant educational institutions in the region. It has operated through multiple historical transitions while maintaining its academic mission.
The school continues to serve students from the local community, providing structured primary education grounded in Christian values, academic discipline, and responsible formation.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
Armenian Evangelical “Kenats” School — Damascus
Academic discipline
Values formation
Continuity
Historic school • Structured primary education • Community continuity
Founded in 1923, the Armenian Evangelical “Kenats” School in Damascus began in very modest conditions and grew rapidly through the support of the Evangelical community.
In 1950, the community secured the school’s own building, which remains its campus today. The school continues to serve with organized primary education grounded in Christian values, responsibility, and community continuity.
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Educating with Faith. Leading with Purpose.
Together, we continue building with quality, values, and belonging.