Students who achieved top grades during the 2017-2018 school year were honored on Saturday at an awards ceremony in Erbil attended Nechirvan Barzani, prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). 

Communities and individuals who established their own schools were also honored in the ceremony, organized by the Education Ministry.

The government is “proud” of the Region’s top students, Barzani told attendees. “You do not just study for yourselves, but to build your community,” he added. 

Three years of war with ISIS have damaged all sectors of economic and cultural life throughout the Region, the prime minister said.

“The blow ISIS dealt to Kurdistan was so effective and was not similar to any other place where the group had engaged in conflict,” Barzani added.

As the security situation improves and the economy stabilizes, Barzani said his government aims to outperform neighboring countries in educational achievement. 

Photos by Mohammed Shwani