The main features of life in Syria since November 1970 under leadership of President Assad were a permanent constitution that regulated all aspects of public life, establishing democratic institutions by direct and free elections., a legislative council, and local administration councils in which the people participate through their representatives. Democracy is a corner stone in President Al-Assad s Policy which started in the early seventies and became part of the daily life of the society, resulting in reinforcing home front and provided unprecedented public support to the political system. Foremost of the democratic elements in Syria is political pluralism most explicit in the Progressive National Front. Women have a respectable position in society and state, where they occupy major civil jobs and political posts in the Cabinet, the People s Council, and all institutions elected by the people. Syria witnessed important developments in education, and culture especially in achieving free and compulsory education.
Vocational training is a corner stone in the development of the infrastructure of education.
Higher Education has expanded in the universities of Damascus, Aleppo, and new universities were established in Homs, and Lattakia, offering free university education for all qualified. Cultural Centers and sport facilities have been established all over the country. Syrian economy has achieved a great growth. The state has succeeded in developing agriculture to cover the country s needs, the production of grain, cotton, fruits, vegetables and forests, as well as livestock. Industry has achieved ambitious progress in which the country reached a new phase of its industrial development.