Kurdistan Region academic year begins smoothly as children head back to the classroom

ERBIL — The 2024-2025 academic year has officially begun in the Kurdistan Region, with around 1.8 million students returning to classrooms. Unlike previous years, the new term has started without the teacher boycotts that disrupted the last academic school year. However, ongoing delays in public servant salaries have raised concerns that the school year could face interruptions once again.

Saman Siwaili, spokesperson for the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Education, confirmed the smooth start to the academic year, stating, “Around 1.8 million students, from all grade levels, will be attending classes this year.” He added that schools across the region are fully prepared and no immediate issues are anticipated.

“The Ministry has ensured that necessary preparations are in place for a smooth start,” Siwaili told 964media.

Last year’s education process in the governorates of Sulaymaniyah and Halabja was severely affected by teacher boycotts triggered by delays in salary payments to public servants, including educators. While teachers in Erbil and Duhok did not join the boycott, the strike in Sulaymaniyah and Halabja paralyzed education in those regions, with schools reopening only in the last three months of the academic year.

The root of these salary delays lies in the KRG’s ongoing financial crisis, worsened by the halt in oil exports since March 2023. The Kurdistan Region, heavily reliant on independent oil exports, has struggled to pay salaries since the International Chamber of Commerce ruled against Turkey’s facilitation of the exports. Despite negotiations, the KRG and Baghdad have not yet established a consistent mechanism for disbursing the region’s share of the national budget.

As of now, public sector salaries for August remain unpaid, and the September payment is uncertain. The National Council of Dissenting Teachers and Employees, which advocates for teachers’ rights, recently held a press conference in Sulaymaniyah calling for a boycott unless both months’ wages are paid in full.

“If the salary situation remains unresolved, strikes and boycotts could resume, putting this year’s education at risk,” said Ata Ahmed, Deputy Head of the Kurdish Teachers Union. He emphasized that teachers are simply demanding their rightful wages and noted that the decision to strike or boycott is ultimately in the hands of the teachers.

In a separate initiative, the Kurdistan Region’s Environmental Protection and Improvement Department has called for the 2024-2025 school year to be designated as the “Year of the Environment.” Abdulrahman Sadiq, head of the department, urged educational institutions to raise environmental awareness and organize activities to promote environmental preservation. Schools are encouraged to form committees of teachers to lead these efforts.

Dr. Soran Sabir, a pediatrician, also shared recommendations for parents to ensure their children’s health and well-being during the school year. His advice included maintaining healthy sleep routines, encouraging proper nutrition, and monitoring children’s emotional and physical health. He also recommended flu vaccines for children with chronic conditions and emphasized the importance of hand hygiene and balancing schoolwork with relaxation and play.