0:00:02 > 0:00:03Damascus, Syria -
0:00:03 > 0:00:06the oldest capital on Earth.
0:00:06 > 0:00:11We're following four very different schools in Damascus,
0:00:11 > 0:00:13from rural primary...
0:00:13 > 0:00:15to smart city girls' secondary.
0:00:15 > 0:00:19For 40 years, Syria has been dominated by a single party,
0:00:19 > 0:00:22and there is limited political freedom.
0:00:24 > 0:00:26But here in Damascus, life is changing,
0:00:26 > 0:00:29especially for the next generation.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32Now, at the end of the school year,
0:00:32 > 0:00:34it's time to plan ahead.
0:00:54 > 0:00:58But to move to the next stage, first you have to pass exams.
0:00:58 > 0:01:03Farah and Rahaf are twins, facing the dreaded baccalaureate.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09Iraqi refugee Yusif has given up on his exams,
0:01:09 > 0:01:12hoping he'll strike lucky with a visa to move abroad.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15And Ammar has his sights set
0:01:15 > 0:01:21on becoming Syria's national champion Pioneer in agriculture.
0:01:21 > 0:01:23In Damascus, it's exam season.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26and everyone's future is riding on it.
0:01:38 > 0:01:42RADIO: 'This is Mix FM...Syria.'
0:01:43 > 0:01:49'Oh, yeah! Whassup? Exams, exams, exams!
0:01:49 > 0:01:52'Bet you're all out revising. It's time to take your break
0:01:52 > 0:01:56- 'and listen to this. - Mix FM Syria! Proud to be Syrian!'
0:01:56 > 0:02:02There are two months to go until the critical baccalaureate exams.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06At the prestigious Zaki al-Arsuzi High School, it's parents' evening.
0:02:06 > 0:02:10Headmistress Amal Hassan is setting the agenda.
0:02:22 > 0:02:28Compared with a generation ago, many more Syrian women are making it to university.
0:02:28 > 0:02:32It's a high-pressure time for students...
0:02:32 > 0:02:34and their parents.
0:02:43 > 0:02:48Amal is anxious that her students don't fail her.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33Even with the baccalaureate looming large,
0:03:33 > 0:03:37the girls at Zaki al-Arsuzi aren't only concerned about exams.
0:03:42 > 0:03:4617-year-old Farah is the top arts student in her year.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49She's revising in Mr Ahmed's philosophy class.
0:03:49 > 0:03:54It's one of the eight subjects she'll be examined on in her forthcoming baccalaureate.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11Farah has a twin sister, Rahaf, also at the same school.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14She's a science major, aiming for a degree in engineering,
0:04:14 > 0:04:17and very different to her twin.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58In a few months, they'll both take their baccalaureate.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01Failure rates are high - 20% of students have to retake,
0:05:01 > 0:05:04and passing alone isn't enough.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07Students need a high enough mark to get into their chosen course.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09Every year it gets more competitive.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26Down the corridor, in Rahaf's physics class,
0:05:26 > 0:05:29there's cause for a brief moment of celebration.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50But in other classes,
0:05:50 > 0:05:54the pressure is starting to show. Head teacher Amal Hassan is on hand.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35For decades, Syria was relatively closed to the West.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38Satellite receivers are still supposedly banned,
0:06:38 > 0:06:41but they've sprung up everywhere. For Farah,
0:06:41 > 0:06:44set on studying English at university, satellite television
0:06:44 > 0:06:47is a study aid as well as a window to the wider world.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52And to improve her English, she's got her twin sister
0:06:52 > 0:06:57to help her recreate her favourite British TV show.
0:06:57 > 0:06:58I promise you,
0:06:58 > 0:07:03Farah tabouleh will be so delicious - more better than Nigella Lawson cake.
0:07:03 > 0:07:07Sorry, Nigella! And let's go to buy the ingredients. Let's go.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19But for Farah, it's not about being a domestic goddess.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21An English degree offers her the best chance
0:07:21 > 0:07:23for the future she's hoping for.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45Despite dreams of becoming a doctor,
0:07:45 > 0:07:52the twins' mother, Hanadi, got married in her teens and didn't take her baccalaureate.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35Like Nigella Lawson,
0:08:35 > 0:08:37I have a plate just for me.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39Bon appetit.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42Really, really good.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06Where the city of Damascus meets the surrounding farmland
0:09:06 > 0:09:09lies Mleiha Rural Primary School.
0:09:21 > 0:09:25Every year, all primary schools nationwide take part
0:09:25 > 0:09:28in Syria's National Pioneer competition
0:09:28 > 0:09:33run by the youth wing of the Ba'ath Party, the ruling party in Syria.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37It searches out the smartest and most talented six to ten-year-olds.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40There are seven national finalists at the school.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43Ammar is one of the stars.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58With the National Pioneer final only two weeks away,
0:09:58 > 0:10:01there's no break for the brainy.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37Ammar comes from a long line of farmers.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41He'll be representing Damascus Countryside District at the final
0:10:41 > 0:10:44in his chosen subject of agriculture.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47He'll be pitted against the top Agriculture Pioneer
0:10:47 > 0:10:49from each of Syria's 14 regions.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52He's banking on his insider knowledge.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54HE CLUCKS LIKE A HEN
0:10:54 > 0:10:56HE BRAYS LIKE A DONKEY
0:10:56 > 0:10:58Miaow! Woof-woof!
0:10:58 > 0:11:01HE SQUEAKS
0:11:03 > 0:11:08Ammar lives on the farm with his 13 cousins and their families.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10Whether or not he's good enough
0:11:10 > 0:11:14to be one of the nation's next Agriculture Pioneers will be decided
0:11:14 > 0:11:17at the organisation's forthcoming summer camp.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19In the meantime,
0:11:19 > 0:11:22He's perfecting his agricultural skills with his teacher.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25At the camp,
0:11:25 > 0:11:29he must present a plant he's grown himself and know it inside out.
0:11:57 > 0:12:02Since the war began in Iraq, over one million Iraqi refugees
0:12:02 > 0:12:03have entered Syria,
0:12:03 > 0:12:07many ending up in the crowded Damascus suburb of Jaramana.
0:12:07 > 0:12:11All Iraqis are offered basic healthcare and free education
0:12:11 > 0:12:13by the Syrian government.
0:12:15 > 0:12:20At Jaramana Boys' Middle School, 300 of the 500 students are Iraqi,
0:12:20 > 0:12:25and the school is way over normal capacity.
0:12:27 > 0:12:31Looking out for the Iraqi students is school counsellor, Salma.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43She's worried about an Iraqi student who's been playing truant
0:12:43 > 0:12:45for three weeks.
0:13:33 > 0:13:37Yusif had been a top student in Iraq,
0:13:37 > 0:13:40but now his focus is elsewhere.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43Yusif is 15.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46When he was 10, his eldest brother was murdered by a militia in Baghdad
0:13:46 > 0:13:50and the family fled.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53But like many Iraqis in Syria, Yusif is in limbo.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06Yusif's family has been told
0:14:06 > 0:14:09that they should be receiving a Canadian visa,
0:14:09 > 0:14:12but it's been five years and still no sign.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15Yusif's running out of patience.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00Yusif!
0:15:00 > 0:15:03Yusif!
0:15:07 > 0:15:08Yusif!
0:15:13 > 0:15:19After three weeks of bunking off, Yusif's back at school...
0:15:19 > 0:15:20with his mum.
0:15:20 > 0:15:25Salma has called him in to explain his decision to quit class.
0:15:43 > 0:15:47It's the first time that Yusif has failed his classes.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30At Mleiha Rural Primary School,
0:16:30 > 0:16:33a VIP is arriving to open their annual exhibition.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39It's a stressful time for the staff.
0:16:46 > 0:16:50The National Pioneer finalists have been given the important role
0:16:50 > 0:16:55of presenting a selection of their work to the local Ba'ath Party leader.
0:17:01 > 0:17:05Although the boys don't know exactly who it is they're meeting,
0:17:05 > 0:17:07they can tell it's a big deal.
0:17:36 > 0:17:38Primary school is the first rung
0:17:38 > 0:17:42on the ladder of a child's academic and political education in Syria.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54All students from the age of six to ten
0:17:54 > 0:17:57are automatically members of the Pioneer Ba'ath organisation.
0:17:57 > 0:18:01Party approval is important for school prestige.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03The local leader arrives
0:18:03 > 0:18:06to see the boys' work.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09He begins at Pioneer Wassim's cardboard castle.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50While his fellow students give exemplary answers,
0:18:50 > 0:18:53Ammar gets missed out in the commotion.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59But he knows that getting noticed
0:18:59 > 0:19:01at the forthcoming National Pioneer Final
0:19:01 > 0:19:03is the real springboard to success.
0:19:39 > 0:19:43At Jaramana, Salma's encouragement has paid off.
0:19:45 > 0:19:47Yusif is back in class.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13As a result of the war in Iraq,
0:20:13 > 0:20:16Yusif fell two years behind in school,
0:20:16 > 0:20:18but hope of a fresh start in Canada
0:20:18 > 0:20:20means renewed interest in studying.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38But Yusif's new-found diligence is not convincing everyone.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10Yusif isn't the only Iraqi student counting on a visa
0:21:10 > 0:21:11to set up his future.
0:21:11 > 0:21:15Many of his schoolmates are also on the waiting list.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36The longer they stay in limbo in Syria,
0:21:36 > 0:21:40the harder it's becoming to see a future worth studying for.
0:21:55 > 0:22:00RADIO: 'This is Mix FM Syria.
0:22:00 > 0:22:02'What's going on, students?
0:22:02 > 0:22:05'Truth of the matter is, where there's a will, there's a way.
0:22:05 > 0:22:07'As long as you apply yourself, it can be done.
0:22:07 > 0:22:11'Mix FM Syria, proud to be Syrian.'
0:22:11 > 0:22:15Across Damascus, baccalaureate fever has begun.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27Herbalists sell special concoctions.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42Fortune tellers are fully booked.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53It seems only the grave can offer peace.
0:23:17 > 0:23:21There are only eight hours to go till Farah and Rahaf
0:23:21 > 0:23:24and a quarter of a million other students in Syria
0:23:24 > 0:23:26start their first baccalaureate exam.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06'All right, baccalaureate students, it's finally here - make or break day.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08'We'll be thinking of you here at Mix FM.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10'Best of luck to all of you.
0:25:10 > 0:25:11'Mix FM Syria.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13'Proud to be Syrian.'
0:25:17 > 0:25:22The girls have been up all night and are still trying to cram.
0:25:28 > 0:25:33They have a total of 29 books to study between them.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29In comparison with ten years ago,
0:26:29 > 0:26:34twice as many Syrians are sitting the baccalaureate exam today.
0:26:47 > 0:26:51This is only one of Farah's eight exams.
0:26:58 > 0:27:04As a science student, Rahaf has nine more papers to go.
0:28:18 > 0:28:20'Sun is out, exams are over.
0:28:20 > 0:28:23'Forget your books and enjoy the sunny time.
0:28:23 > 0:28:27'Mix FM Syria, proud to be Syrian.'
0:28:27 > 0:28:30For primary school pupils it's the summer holiday,
0:28:30 > 0:28:33and after five months of training,
0:28:33 > 0:28:36Ammar and his friends are finally on their way
0:28:36 > 0:28:39to the National Pioneer Competition.
0:28:43 > 0:28:47It's the first time that Ammar has been away from home.
0:28:51 > 0:28:54Shepherding the boys is Waleed...
0:28:57 > 0:29:01..a teacher at Mleiha Primary and a trained Ba'ath Pioneer leader.
0:29:01 > 0:29:03Let's go.
0:29:03 > 0:29:05Let's go.
0:29:08 > 0:29:12The three-day camp is situated in the city of Homs
0:29:12 > 0:29:15in central Syria.
0:29:16 > 0:29:21The competition will decide the National Pioneer champion.
0:29:36 > 0:29:40The initial 1.5 million competitors nationwide
0:29:40 > 0:29:44have been whittled down to the brightest 1,400 boys and girls.
0:29:44 > 0:29:48Everything at the camp comes free of charge
0:29:48 > 0:29:51courtesy of the Ba'ath Pioneer organisation.
0:29:57 > 0:30:00Camp life embodies socialist principles,
0:30:00 > 0:30:04starting with a shared identity.
0:30:25 > 0:30:29The Pioneer organisation was created in 1974
0:30:29 > 0:30:32After the former president of Syria visited North Korea.
0:30:32 > 0:30:36He was greeted by singing crowds of children
0:30:36 > 0:30:39and decided to create a similar organisation in Syria.
0:30:39 > 0:30:43BAND PLAYS A ROUSING TUNE
0:31:24 > 0:31:30This year the competition camp has changed its name to Competition Resort
0:31:30 > 0:31:33to reflect its less military approach.
0:32:38 > 0:32:41In Syria and Iraq,
0:32:41 > 0:32:45Yusif has always dreamed of becoming a professional footballer.
0:32:45 > 0:32:51A Canadian visa could bring him closer to his goal.
0:32:55 > 0:32:58In Baghdad, Yusif had been about to showcase his skills
0:32:58 > 0:33:00to Dutch talent scouts.
0:33:00 > 0:33:04His brother's murder meant the family fled before he had a chance.
0:33:49 > 0:33:54At the National Pioneer Competition, Syria's first astronaut
0:33:54 > 0:33:59and national hero, Mohammed Fares, has come to rally the Pioneers.
0:34:14 > 0:34:18In 1974, travelling in a Russian spacecraft,
0:34:18 > 0:34:20he released a vial of Damascus soil
0:34:20 > 0:34:23and a poster of Syria's president into outer space.
0:35:03 > 0:35:05The boys are inspired,
0:35:05 > 0:35:09but tomorrow's Pioneer Competition looms near.
0:36:46 > 0:36:51At Jaramana School, it's Yusif's final end of year exam.
0:36:51 > 0:36:53He needs to score 50%
0:36:53 > 0:36:56to make it through to Syrian eighth grade next term,
0:36:56 > 0:37:00but he's hoping that by then he'll be in Canada.
0:37:04 > 0:37:09In Syria, Yusif's built a close friendship
0:37:09 > 0:37:11with his fellow Iraqi classmates,
0:37:11 > 0:37:15based on their shared past and uncertain future.
0:37:35 > 0:37:39Like every end of term for the past five years,
0:37:39 > 0:37:44Yusif is sure this one's his last in Syria.
0:38:12 > 0:38:14Salma's job is done.
0:38:14 > 0:38:16She's turned things round for Yusif
0:38:16 > 0:38:18who, just two months ago, had dropped out of school.
0:38:51 > 0:38:55The baccalaureate is over for Farah and Rahaf,
0:38:55 > 0:38:58but the spectre of results hangs over their holiday.
0:39:13 > 0:39:17Rahaf believes she's had a vision foretelling her results.
0:39:17 > 0:39:18So, to get a bit of certainty,
0:39:18 > 0:39:21the twins have gone to have it interpreted.
0:40:00 > 0:40:04But the dream reader has less encouragement for Farah.
0:40:42 > 0:40:44It's 7am -
0:40:44 > 0:40:48competition day at the Ba'ath Pioneer Resort.
0:40:48 > 0:40:50Most Pioneers are already up and preparing,
0:40:50 > 0:40:53but Ammar is asleep.
0:40:58 > 0:41:01VOICE ON LOUDSPEAKER
0:41:09 > 0:41:12The Cardboard Model Pioneers, Imad and Wassim,
0:41:12 > 0:41:15will be challenged to construct a model in nine hours.
0:41:31 > 0:41:36Ammar and his plant are late for their debut.
0:41:50 > 0:41:54The boys are competing against the best in the country,
0:41:54 > 0:41:56but Imad isn't intimidated.
0:42:14 > 0:42:20There are over 40 subjects, from biology and computing
0:42:20 > 0:42:24to recycled art and engineering.
0:42:24 > 0:42:28Less than a decade ago, all jobs with the state
0:42:28 > 0:42:31were only given to Ba'ath Party members.
0:42:31 > 0:42:33This is no longer the case.
0:42:33 > 0:42:36The president of the camp is keen to find
0:42:36 > 0:42:39the nation's future high fliers.
0:42:39 > 0:42:41The top three students from each field
0:42:41 > 0:42:44will be considered for the role of Junior Syrian Ambassador.
0:42:44 > 0:42:48Historically, there have been exchanges with North Korea, Libya
0:42:48 > 0:42:50and Russia.
0:42:50 > 0:42:55But there are now plans to send the winning Pioneers to Western countries.
0:43:37 > 0:43:40Unearthing someone with National Pioneer qualities
0:43:40 > 0:43:44is a painstaking process.
0:43:55 > 0:43:57The Agriculture Pioneers
0:43:57 > 0:44:01are being quizzed on the plants they've nurtured.
0:44:19 > 0:44:21Ammar is next to face the music.
0:45:01 > 0:45:06After six months of training, it's finally over,
0:45:06 > 0:45:11and Imad has found an alternative use for his modelling tools.
0:45:14 > 0:45:16But the judges aren't impressed
0:45:16 > 0:45:19with Imad's interpretation of a dream house.
0:46:00 > 0:46:04Back in Damascus, at Yusif's home they're still waiting for news.
0:46:04 > 0:46:08The family had medical tests at the Canadian embassy five months ago,
0:46:08 > 0:46:11but since then it's been silence.
0:46:11 > 0:46:13GLASS SMASHES
0:46:32 > 0:46:36It's good news - the Canadians have accepted their application.
0:47:10 > 0:47:13It hasn't quite sunk in yet,
0:47:13 > 0:47:17but Yusif is soon up to tell his friends and practise his English.
0:47:48 > 0:47:52Yusif's extra efforts in his exams weren't quite enough
0:47:52 > 0:47:54to make up for the classes that he missed.
0:47:54 > 0:47:57He and his Iraqi school friends failed the year.
0:48:03 > 0:48:06But Yusif seems determined to make a new start.
0:48:32 > 0:48:35Back from the competition, the boys are brought by Waleed
0:48:35 > 0:48:37to Pioneer headquarters to find out
0:48:37 > 0:48:39if any of the seven have become National Pioneers.
0:48:39 > 0:48:43While they wait for the results to be released,
0:48:43 > 0:48:47Waleed's got a tough job keeping everyone calm.
0:49:17 > 0:49:20Only the names of the winners are listed.
0:49:48 > 0:49:51The title of National Pioneer has escaped Ammar for this year,
0:49:51 > 0:49:54but one of the other Mleiha students, Zahir,
0:49:54 > 0:49:57has become Syria's top National Pioneer in traditional arts.
0:50:44 > 0:50:47For Iraqi emigrants like Yusif and his family,
0:50:47 > 0:50:51the Canadian Embassy hosts orientation courses.
0:51:04 > 0:51:09'In man's division of Mother Earth, one country has been left...'
0:51:09 > 0:51:12Canada is 33 times bigger than Iraq.
0:51:12 > 0:51:15Winter temperatures can plummet to minus 40.
0:51:15 > 0:51:17'3,851,000...'
0:51:17 > 0:51:19As a persecuted minority in Iraq,
0:51:19 > 0:51:22Christian families are favoured for Canadian visas.
0:51:22 > 0:51:27Yusif's family application was sponsored by a diocese in Calgary,
0:51:27 > 0:51:29where they'll be heading.
0:51:33 > 0:51:37In addition to the joys of Canadian flora and fauna,
0:51:37 > 0:51:40Yusif's had a windfall.
0:51:40 > 0:51:43His brothers have contacted a Lebanese coach in Canada
0:51:43 > 0:51:46to set him up with a trial for Calgary FC.
0:52:09 > 0:52:11Before they leave Syria,
0:52:11 > 0:52:15Yusif's family are selling off their possessions.
0:52:39 > 0:52:42It's a new start for everyone.
0:52:42 > 0:52:45Yusif's mum dyes her hair
0:52:45 > 0:52:48for the first time since the death of her eldest son.
0:52:57 > 0:53:01After five and a half years of waiting in Syria,
0:53:01 > 0:53:05the day has finally come for Yusif and his family to leave.
0:53:14 > 0:53:19Of the quarter of a million registered Iraqi refugees in Syria,
0:53:19 > 0:53:235,000 were given visas for residency elsewhere this year.
0:54:15 > 0:54:19'All right, it's judgment day for you BAC students
0:54:19 > 0:54:21'and 10 o'clock is fast approaching.
0:54:21 > 0:54:25'You can count on us to be there for you at your high times and lows.'
0:54:39 > 0:54:43The twins' father is taking them into school to find out their results.
0:54:50 > 0:54:54I'm so afraid, my hand on my heart.
0:54:54 > 0:54:59Of course, it's most important moment in my life.
0:55:26 > 0:55:28The results are released.
0:55:37 > 0:55:42The marks are given out of 270 for arts and 290 for science.
0:55:44 > 0:55:49The university entry requirement for engineering was 275 last year.
0:55:49 > 0:55:52For English it was 229.
0:56:11 > 0:56:12Farah's passed the exam,
0:56:12 > 0:56:14but her marks may not be high enough
0:56:14 > 0:56:17to get into the English course she wants.
0:56:17 > 0:56:22Rahaf's results are also lower than she'd hoped.
0:56:29 > 0:56:31She's getting no sympathy from her twin.
0:56:37 > 0:56:43The universities are yet to release this year's entry requirements.
0:56:43 > 0:56:47Until they do, the twins' futures hang in the balance.
0:56:49 > 0:56:52For the school, the overall results have been good,
0:56:52 > 0:56:54but head teacher, Amal Hassan,
0:56:54 > 0:56:57has just missed out on a student getting 100%.
0:57:10 > 0:57:12But despite the intense focus on exams,
0:57:12 > 0:57:16for Amal, education is about more than just making the grade.
0:58:13 > 0:58:18To find out more from the Open University about schools in Syria,
0:58:18 > 0:58:22go to...