Parliament amends 2011 Education Ministry law to expand benefits for teachers, lecturers

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s parliament on Monday approved the first amendment to the Education Ministry Law No. 22 of 2011, expanding benefits for teachers, rural educators, and unpaid lecturers.

The parliamentary education committee said the changes include doubling allowances, recognizing years of unpaid service for retirement, and reducing the required years of rural service for double-time credit.

Committee chair Suad al-Waeli told the Iraqi News Agency that the condition for rural service was lowered from five years to three, and that “if a teacher serves four years in villages and rural areas, it will be counted as eight, and if five years, it will be counted as ten.”

She added that the amendment covers unpaid lecturers as well, counting their volunteer years toward retirement. Estimates put the number of unpaid lecturers at more than 200,000 nationwide, most of whom continue to work without contracts or pay despite repeated protests.

Financial allocations were also increased, with allowances raised from 150,000 dinars ($107) to 300,000 dinars ($214). In addition, the ministry’s legal departments were elevated to the level of a general directorate, and schools built on non-ministry lands are to be formally transferred to its ownership.

Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani congratulated educators following the vote, saying the law will improve living conditions for education staff. Deputy Speaker Mohsen al-Mandalawi added that the legislation was shaped through consultations with teachers and their representatives across Iraq.