“Our mother tongue is our right”: Jazira students insist on education in Kurdish

Reactions against the decision by the Ministry of Education in the Syrian transitional government to limit Kurdish-language instruction to just three classes per week, issued late last August, continue to grow.

In this context, students from the countryside of Amuda in the Jazira region spoke to our agency. Student Noor, from Salander village, said switching to education in Arabic would be difficult for her, explaining that she is proficient in reading and writing in her mother tongue and stressing that students are demanding their right to receive education in their mother tongue.

Student Lauren, from Jager Bazar village, said students had spent many years studying in Kurdish and that changing the language of instruction would add to the difficulties they face. She stressed that three Kurdish-language classes are not enough and said she hoped to return to studying in her mother tongue.

For his part, seventh-grade student Issa Omar, from the same village, said changing the language of instruction would affect his ability to continue his studies. He said three Kurdish-language classes per week are insufficient and called for the curriculum to be taught in Kurdish.

Student Alaa, from Boursaid village, also stressed that the demand for Kurdish is not limited to education but is also linked to identity. She noted that Kurdish is their mother tongue and that students remain committed to their right to use it in the educational process.

In Topz village, student Yasmin said she had studied in Kurdish since first grade, explaining that switching education to Arabic would make it more difficult for students to keep up with their studies.

Yasmin stressed that students do not reject learning Arabic, but want their education to continue in Kurdish and to be able to learn in their mother tongue.

For her part, student Alya Mohammad said students are demanding their right to their Kurdish language, stressing that three Kurdish-language classes, after previously having dedicated classes for the language, are not enough. She explained that students are not opposed to learning Arabic, as they had already been studying it, but rejected having their entire education conducted in Arabic rather than in their mother tongue.

She added that students are demanding equality between the two languages, noting that Kurdish represents both their mother tongue and their identity and that they reject removing it from the educational process.

Ongoing Calls to Amend the Decision

While students remain committed to their right to study in their mother tongue, calls continue for the decision to be reconsidered in a way that guarantees the curriculum is taught in Kurdish.

Various areas of the Jazira are witnessing protest activities involving students and parents calling for the continuation of Kurdish-language education. Participants are demanding students’ right to learn in their mother tongue and rejecting the decision to limit Kurdish instruction to just three classes per week.

a.k

ANHA