Kurdistan region introduces French language classes in select schools

ERBIL, October 4 — The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Ministry of Education announced a decision on Tuesday to add French language classes to the curricula of six secondary schools in Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and Duhok governorates.

Dana Mohammed, the Ministry’s head of foreign language instruction, said officials hope the new language classes will help students develop new skills and facilitate job opportunities or further studies abroad.

The decision follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Education and the French Institute on Monday.

Mohammed explained: “The French language will be taught twice a week as an additional and experimental subject in these six schools, with specialized teachers provided. Students will not sit exams for this subject, but at the end of the year, they will receive a certificate that they can use in their CVs and for residency opportunities. We have allocated two schools in each governorate, and teachers will be tested by the French Institute.”