diff --git a/backend/scripts/sync_curriculum_to_database.php b/backend/scripts/sync_curriculum_to_database.php
index 3f9f789..f0c8be3 100644
--- a/backend/scripts/sync_curriculum_to_database.php
+++ b/backend/scripts/sync_curriculum_to_database.php
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 <?php
 
-require_once __DIR__ . '/../app/Core/Database.php';
-require_once __DIR__ . '/../app/Core/Security.php';
-require_once __DIR__ . '/../app/Services/CurriculumService.php';
+// Use the same environment loader and PSR-4 bootstrap as the web API.
+// Running this script directly must still load backend/.env.
+require_once __DIR__ . '/../app/bootstrap.php';
 
 use App\Core\Database;
 use App\Services\CurriculumService;