Dismissed educators in Kurdistan Region protest across three cities, demand reinstatement

NEWSROOM — A group of non-contracted educators, part of an estimated 2,000 across the Kurdistan Region who have faced dismissal or suspension, held demonstrations in Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and Raniya, calling on the Ministry of Education to reinstate them and grant them permanent contractual status.

In mid-August, the Kurdistan Regional Government transitioned approximately 38,000 non-contracted educators to permanent contracted positions.

However, many non-permanent educators say they were dismissed or forced to resign—due to replacement by permanent staff, maternity leave, illness, or administrative decisions—miss out on the benefits enjoyed by their tenured colleagues. These benefits include permits, maternity leave, eligibility for government-allocated land, and opportunities for advancement.

In Erbil, demonstrators gathered near the Ministry of Education, where Chro Hama Sabir, speaking on behalf of the dismissed educators, highlighted the years of service many had invested. “We have teachers among us with up to 11 years of service. Our dismissal is unjust, and we demand the same permanent contracts as our peers,” Sabir told 964media.

Similar scenes unfolded in Sulaymaniyah, where educators rallied outside the General Directorate of Education. Karwan Mohammed, one of the affected teachers, voiced their demand: “We are here to insist on being reinstated. This isn’t only about jobs; it’s about our rights and the impact on our students.”

In Raniya, a city in the Raparin independent administration within Sulaymaniyah, protester Hangaw Abdulwahid echoed these sentiments. “Many of us have been teaching for years. To be dismissed without clear reasons is disheartening. We demand transparency and fairness in the contracting process.”

Roshna Jabar, another protester, shared with 964media, “Some teachers have served nearly 11 years without permanent contracts and have now been dismissed.”

Jabar urged the Ministry of Education to act swiftly in reinstating them, emphasizing the need for fair treatment and job security for long-serving educators.