Striking teachers demand government action
SULAIMANI, Kurdistan Region - Striking non-contract teachers are hoping to get their demands on parliament’s agenda as pressure is building to end their protests and get students back into class.
“My remorse is deep as I see my students’ studies delayed, but I have come here to demand my rights. The government should be accountable to students and teachers,” Govand Rajab, a non-contract teacher, told Rudaw in front of the parliament’s office in Sulaimani where teachers have protested for the past week.
A member of the regional parliament, Osman Sedari, said they have invited relevant cabinet ministers to parliament to discuss the issue, but “the ministers have not yet indicated their willingness to attend the parliament meeting.”
The cash-strapped Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has imposed a freeze on new, permanent hires as it struggled to pay civil servant salaries in full and on time for more than seven years due to the war against the Islamic State (ISIS), disputes with Baghdad, and a drop in oil prices.
There are an estimated more than 20,000 non-contract teachers in the Kurdistan Region and most of them are women. Their pay is less than their contracted colleagues and they do not receive benefits. They have been protesting across the Kurdistan Region for about two weeks.
Last week, the finance ministry said it discussed the situation with the education ministry and found a solution, but did not provide details.
Education officials are concerned the strike will affect the academic year. “If a child misses just one hour of school, it will certainly affect their future, education, and learning,” said Abdulkhaliq Mawati, from the Teacher’s Union of Kurdistan.
At Ahmed Akbar’s school, 18 of 21 teachers are on strike. He wants to get back to class soon. “If not, we’ll repeat the same grade next year,” he said.
Translation and video editing by Sarkawt Mohammed
“My remorse is deep as I see my students’ studies delayed, but I have come here to demand my rights. The government should be accountable to students and teachers,” Govand Rajab, a non-contract teacher, told Rudaw in front of the parliament’s office in Sulaimani where teachers have protested for the past week.
A member of the regional parliament, Osman Sedari, said they have invited relevant cabinet ministers to parliament to discuss the issue, but “the ministers have not yet indicated their willingness to attend the parliament meeting.”
The cash-strapped Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has imposed a freeze on new, permanent hires as it struggled to pay civil servant salaries in full and on time for more than seven years due to the war against the Islamic State (ISIS), disputes with Baghdad, and a drop in oil prices.
There are an estimated more than 20,000 non-contract teachers in the Kurdistan Region and most of them are women. Their pay is less than their contracted colleagues and they do not receive benefits. They have been protesting across the Kurdistan Region for about two weeks.
Last week, the finance ministry said it discussed the situation with the education ministry and found a solution, but did not provide details.
Education officials are concerned the strike will affect the academic year. “If a child misses just one hour of school, it will certainly affect their future, education, and learning,” said Abdulkhaliq Mawati, from the Teacher’s Union of Kurdistan.
At Ahmed Akbar’s school, 18 of 21 teachers are on strike. He wants to get back to class soon. “If not, we’ll repeat the same grade next year,” he said.
Translation and video editing by Sarkawt Mohammed