Iraq terminates all unpaid lecturer contracts, bars future informal hiring

BAGHDAD — Education Minister Ibrahim Namis Al-Jubouri on Thursday announced the cancellation of all contracts with unpaid lecturers working in public schools, following directives from the Council of Ministers aimed at tightening control over employment in the education sector.

Al-Jubouri said the move permanently ends the practice of using unpaid lecturers—individuals who teach voluntarily without salaries or formal employment—and prohibits any future contracts made outside the legal framework. He instructed all general directorates of education to strictly follow official procedures and warned of legal consequences for violations.

Unpaid lecturers, also known as free lecturers, have long filled staffing gaps in Iraq’s under-resourced school system. Often recruited by local education authorities to address shortages, many of them teach for years without pay in the hope of eventually receiving formal appointments or contractual recognition. Their total number nationwide is estimated at over 200,000.

Despite repeated government pledges to formalize their status, budget constraints have hindered progress. The difficult conditions have triggered waves of protests in recent years, with lecturers demanding permanent jobs and legal recognition of their service.

Al-Jubouri’s announcement comes as the ministry faces increasing scrutiny over its reliance on voluntary labor, especially amid wider efforts to reform Iraq’s public sector and reduce irregular employment practices.