Students, teachers demand recognition of Kurdish as official language, guaranteed education in it

Students and teachers in al-Hasakah city continue to demand the right to education in the Kurdish language and its recognition as a second official language in Syria through constitutional provisions, as it represents an essential part of the identity and culture of the Kurdish people. Preserving the educational achievements made in this field is considered a legitimate right.

In this context, Kurdish language teacher Mohammad Hajo explained that the Kurds have achieved significant gains in mother-tongue education over the past years. He said:

"Amid the changes that have taken place in Rojava, whose revolution achieved major gains regarding the Kurdish language, what is happening today in terms of changes is not welcomed by Kurds, teachers, or students. Our children and students have been studying their language for more than a decade."

Kurdish language must be involved in the Syrian constitution

He added: "It is unacceptable to limit Kurdish language instruction to two optional hours in schools, as this does not meet the aspirations of Kurds, teachers, and students."

He stressed: "The Kurdish language must be included in the Syrian constitution and recognized as an official language. Kurds have made great sacrifices for their language, and today they are working to develop it."

Hajo rejected government proposals regarding the Kurdish language and the idea of teaching it as an optional subject for only two hours in schools. He emphasized: "These proposals are not open for discussion. We are on our own land, and according to international laws, indigenous peoples have the right to learn in their mother tongue. Kurds have the right to study in their language. Educational curricula should be translated into Kurdish, adopted as a language of instruction, and taught in Kurdish."

He further noted: "Just as Arabic is included in the constitution, Kurdish should also be included, as it is the language of the second-largest ethnic group in Syria."

Mohammad Hajo affirmed that preserving the Kurdish language is a collective responsibility, saying: "Kurds must protect their language and not limit their concern for it to special occasions only. It guarantees the existence of our people and preserves their history, culture, and identity. Through our language, we safeguard our future and the future of our children, because the continued existence of the Kurds today is linked to preserving and developing it."

He concluded: "We hope to continue the struggle to establish Kurdish as an official language in Syria and guarantee future generations the right to learn in their mother tongue."

Our language should be the country's second language

For his part, Judi Mahmoud, a student at the Health Institute, stated that the achievements made in the field of the Kurdish language came as a result of years of struggle and the sacrifices of martyrs.

He stressed students' rejection of limiting Kurdish instruction to only a few hours: "We do not accept our language being taught for only two hours in schools."

He called for it to be recognized as an official language in the country.

He added: "The Kurdish language should be an official language in Syria because we are the country's second-largest ethnic group. Today, foreign languages are being adopted alongside Arabic in Syria, so our language should be the second language of Syria and be recognized in its constitution."

Judi concluded by calling on students, teachers, and Kurds to continue striving to preserve and protect their language so that it becomes an official language in the country.

New generations have the right to learn in their mother tongue

Meanwhile, student Jiyan Othman rejected the proposal to teach Kurdish for only two hours in schools. She explained that new generations of students have received education in Kurdish over recent years, and therefore Kurds should continue to learn in their mother tongue, with educational curricula translated into Kurdish.

She emphasized that Kurdish is not a foreign language but an indigenous language that deserves official status in the country and inclusion in the Syrian constitution.

Jiyan stressed: "Students, teachers, and members of the Kurdish people must continue efforts aimed at protecting the Kurdish language and strengthening its legal and educational status, ensuring future generations' right to learn in their mother tongue. This is our right."

ANHA