The Kurdistan Region of Iraq has achieved a significant milestone in reducing its illiteracy rate to 16%, down from 24% in 2018, according to the Kurdistan Region’s Minister of Education, Alan Hama Saeed. The Minister outlined various initiatives, including large-scale recruitment of teachers, textbook revisions, and new school constructions, aimed at further enhancing the education sector. These efforts reflect the Kurdistan Regional Government’s commitment to improving educational outcomes across the region.
Illiteracy Rate Reduction and Educational Improvements
The Kurdistan Region’s illiteracy rate has significantly decreased to 16%, a notable improvement from the 24% recorded in 2018. Minister of Education Alan Hama Saeed, speaking at a press conference on Sunday, attributed this progress to the comprehensive efforts of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Ministry of Education under the ninth cabinet. He expressed optimism that this downward trend would continue in the coming years, emphasizing the importance of sustained efforts in education.
Minister Saeed highlighted the Ministry’s broader achievements, including the recruitment of over 40,000 lecturers across the Ministries of Education and Higher Education and Scientific Research on permanent contracts. Additionally, 5,880 contract teachers were granted permanent positions, which has stabilized and strengthened the teaching workforce. The recruitment of 748 special education teachers to support children with disabilities further underscores the Ministry’s commitment to inclusive education.
Infrastructure Development and Textbook Revisions
The KRG’s Ministry of Education has undertaken significant infrastructure development to support the upcoming academic year (2024-2025). Nearly 19.8 million textbooks have been printed, at a cost of over 24 billion dinars, ensuring that students across the region have access to updated educational materials. The Ministry has also revised and redesigned 407 textbooks in various languages, including Kurdish, Arabic, English, and Syriac, to enhance the quality of education.
In parallel with these efforts, the Erbil Governor, Omed Khoshnaw, announced the construction of 19 new schools in underprivileged areas of Erbil. These schools are scheduled to open for the 2024-2025 academic year, providing much-needed educational infrastructure. This initiative is part of a broader focus by the KRG on improving the education sector, particularly in areas that have historically been underserved.
Renovation and Expansion of Educational Facilities
In addition to building new schools, the KRG has ordered the provision of 300 million dinars for the renovation of several schools in Koya district. The renovation process is set to begin this week, as part of the government’s broader strategy to expand education infrastructure and eliminate the two-shift and three-shift systems in schools.
For the 2024-2025 school year, 42 new kindergarten and school buildings will open in September and October, significantly reducing the need for multi-shift systems in most schools in the Kurdistan Region. Over the past four years, more than 195 new buildings and 460 rooms have been constructed, and 1,660 schools have been renovated. These developments have created new places for over 100,000 students in the public sector, reflecting the KRG’s ongoing commitment to enhancing educational facilities and access.
