Residents demand full Kurdish-Language education in Schools

Amid the ongoing debate over cultural and educational rights in Syria, predominantly Kurdish areas have witnessed widespread condemnation of the transitional government’s latest Education Ministry decision to allocate only three hours a week for teaching Kurdish in schools. Residents and students view the decision as an unacceptable reduction that fails to reflect their sacrifices and respect their identity.

Residents continue to call for the adoption of a comprehensive curriculum in their mother tongue, ultimately seeking official recognition of Kurdish as a language in the new Syrian constitution. Various daily activities and events have been organized to press these demands.

Speaking to ANHA Agency, residents of Qamishlo expressed their dissatisfaction with the decision. Citizen Mohammed Haidar said allocating only three hours a week to Kurdish “is not a decision worthy of the Kurdish people and their sacrifices.”

He stressed that participation in the activities represents an expression of their fundamental right to live and receive education in their mother tongue in their own areas.

Meanwhile, ninth-grade student Belin Khalil stressed her commitment to continuing her education in her mother tongue, saying: “I was born Kurdish, and I want to live and grow up speaking my Kurdish language.”

She added that accepting Kurdish being taught for only three hours a week was out of the question, calling instead for a complete curriculum in the language. She stressed that they were not opposed to learning other languages, but not at the expense of their own language, which enables them to express their existence and identity.

Similarly, Samia Khalil said years of struggle had been devoted to securing rights and the right to education in their mother tongue, describing the latest decision as unacceptable.

At the end of her remarks, she stressed the need to recognize Kurdish as an official language of education in the new Syrian constitution, reaffirming their determination to continue their struggle until this right is guaranteed.

a.k

ANHA