Kongra Star: Comprehensive education in Kurdish language must be provided

Today, Kongra Star issued a public statement in the city of Tel Tamr rejecting the Syrian Ministry of Education's decision to allocate only three weekly class periods for Kurdish language instruction. The statement emphasized that education in one’s mother tongue is a fundamental right and that the Kurdish language is an integral part of the identity and culture of Kurdish society.

The statement was read outside the Kongra Star headquarters in the city by member Linda Al-Younis, in the presence of a number of women and representatives from civil institutions and women's organizations.

The statement noted that language is not merely a means of communication but forms the foundation of identity, culture, history, and societal existence, emphasizing that protecting and developing the Kurdish language—and bolstering its presence in educational and cultural spheres—constitutes a fundamental right.

Kongra Star affirmed that every individual has the right to receive education in their mother tongue, calling for an end to the practice of limiting Kurdish language instruction to a small number of weekly classes; instead, it advocated for providing comprehensive education in Kurdish across all educational stages.

The statement called on relevant authorities to recognize and guarantee the right to education in Kurdish, to provide the necessary teaching staff, textbooks, curricula, and educational materials, and to create the conditions conducive to developing an educational system conducted in the Kurdish language.

It also stressed the necessity of respecting and guaranteeing the linguistic rights of all peoples and communities without discrimination, asserting that mother-tongue education helps preserve language and culture, strengthens social identity, and supports the construction of a society founded on equality, freedom, and respect.

Kongra Star concluded its statement by emphasizing that the Kurdish language should be treated as a social and cultural asset rather than an obstacle to the educational process, reiterating: "Mother-tongue education is a right, the Kurdish language is a right, and protecting the language is protecting identity and culture."

Sh-S

ANHA