Syria seeks teachers to expand Kurdish-language education
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Syria’s Ministry of Education announced on Monday that it is seeking Kurdish-language teachers from within its staff and from outside the ministry as part of preparations to introduce Kurdish-language education in schools.
The ministry’s Directorate of Administrative Development said applicants must meet the required conditions and qualifications outlined in the job description card. The announcement did not specify the number of teachers to be recruited.
The move comes as the ministry prepares to implement Kurdish-language education following a series of steps taken this year to develop Kurdish curricula and provide qualified teaching staff. In January, the ministry began preparing Kurdish-language curricula for different educational levels through the National Center for Curriculum Development.
The ministry previously said its instructions include providing qualified teachers and adjusting school plans to accommodate Kurdish-language instruction in areas where Kurds constitute a significant proportion of the population.
The development marks a significant change from decades of restrictions on Kurdish-language education under Syria’s former Baathist government. Human Rights Watch documented that Syrian authorities prohibited the teaching of Kurdish in schools and restricted its use in public life, while Kurdish private schools were also not permitted. (Human Rights Watch)
Those restrictions meant that Kurdish language and cultural education was often conducted informally in private homes rather than through the formal education system, according to Human Rights Watch.
In January 2026, the Syrian government announced measures to introduce Kurdish-language curricula in schools, describing Kurdish cultural and linguistic identity as part of Syria’s national identity. The Ministry of Education said the curricula were being prepared for different educational levels.
The latest announcement seeks to expand the teaching workforce by accepting applicants from both within and outside the ministry, subject to the qualifications set out in the job description.