Students of Qamishlo, Derik, Rmelan demand education in Kurdish

Activities and events rejecting the decision by the Syrian transitional government’s Ministry of Education to limit Kurdish-language instruction to three classes per week continue.

Qamishlo

In this context, the Kongra Star movement and students of the Martyr Mustafa Kulo Elementary School in Qamishlo organized a demonstration in front of the school, attended by Kongra Star members and students.

During the demonstration, student Aren Walid Hussein recited a poem about the Kurdish language written by the students.

The poem highlighted the importance of education and learning in one’s mother tongue, emphasizing that the Kurdish language represents the identity, culture and existence of the people. It called on children and students to hold on to their language and culture and strengthen their knowledge through education.

The poem also stressed children’s right to learn in their own language in cities and villages, and encouraged them to continue their studies and advance through education. It emphasized that protecting and developing the language is a collective responsibility and that educating children in their mother tongue is fundamental to preserving culture, identity and collective memory.

After reciting the poem, student Aren Hussein said that all students want to study the curriculum in Kurdish, concluding: “We want our language. Our language is our existence, and our language is our culture. We gathered here today to demand education in our mother tongue.”

The event concluded with chants of “There is no life without language.”

Derik

In Derik, student and parent protests continued for the seventh consecutive day at the sit-in tent set up by the People’s Initiative in front of Yusuf al-Azma School.

Students took part in today’s activities, holding signs reading, “Our language is our existence. There is no life without language.” They said they would continue the sit-in activities until the Kurdish mother tongue is constitutionally recognized and the curriculum is taught in Kurdish.

Rmelan

In Rmelan, a town in the vicinity of Girkê Legê, students of the Martyr Ahin School organized an event in front of their school to express their commitment to their right to learn the Kurdish language.

During the event, students held a banner bearing the Kurdish phrase “There is no life without language,” reaffirming their commitment to their mother tongue and sending a message that they would continue studying the Kurdish language regardless of the circumstances.

The students called for the curriculum to be taught in Kurdish, stressing that learning their language is their right and that the Kurdish language represents their existence and identity.

They also called on all their classmates to participate and express their demands, and to stand together as one voice in defense of their right to learn their Kurdish language.

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