Syrian refugees in KRI abstain from sending children to schools
ERBIL, KRI, Iraq, (North Press) – Syrian refugees, living in camps in the city of Erbil in the Kurdistan Regional of Iraq (KRI), abstain from sending their children to schools, protesting against the integration policy and changing Arabic-language curriculum to Kurdish-Sorani one.
With the commencement of the academic year 2022-2023, classrooms are almost empty in the Kawergosk Refugee Camp in Erbil, notably first stage pupils, after their families abstained from sending them to the school.
A month ago, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in cooperation with the Ministry of Education issued a decision to change Arabic-language curriculum in camps for the Syrian refugees to Kurdish-Sorani one covering the four first stages. A class period was reserved for teaching Arabic.
In preparation for the change, the Ministry of Education in cooperation with UNICEF opened summer courses, teaching Sorani to students from the first up to the sixth stage.
At the time, teachers running the courses indicated to discontent by parents and the implied difficulties in learning Sorani since students were taught Arabic language curriculum in the last years.
Sorani is a delicate of the Kurdish language, it is the official language in the KRI, and it is slightly different from the one spoken by Syrian Kurds.
Two days ago, a group of mothers went to the principle of Kawergosk camp’s school, demanding that their children are taught Arabic curriculum.
Sherin Muhammad, a Syrian refugee living in the Kawergosk camp, said she did not send her son to the school since “Curriculum is taught in the Sorani.”
Muhammad called on the competent bodies “to take into account future of the refugee pupils and to teach them in Arabic.”
Rond Najat Rahman, principle of the Kawergosk camp’s school, said, “This academic year is different from previous ones regarding curriculum. Students started from first till fourth grade to study the Kurdish language, the Sorani dialect, at school.”
He added, “They study all subjects, including math, science and social studies in Kurdish language – Sorani dialect.”
The remainder stages preserve no changes, according to Rahman.
Rim Khalaf, another Syrian refugee living in the camp, said she has not sent her three children to schools due to their inability to help their children in learning Sorani.
Khalaf cannot subject her children to private course because they very expensive.