Mazloum Abdi: Education in Kurdish Is a Fundamental Right

ANHA

Mazloum Abdi, Supervisor to Syrian Presidency.

Mazloum Abdi, Advisor to the Syrian Presidency, has urged Kurdish students and their families in Rojava to continue their education during the new academic year, pledging to step up efforts to secure official recognition for the Kurdish language.

In a video message published by Hawar News Agency, Abdi said the Kurdish language was central to Kurdish identity and that protecting and developing it had remained a fundamental objective of their struggle.

“Education and learning in one’s mother tongue is a natural right of all peoples. Education in Kurdish is a fundamental and natural right of the Kurdish people,” he said.

Abdi said that over the past 14 years of the Rojava Revolution, considerable efforts had been made to establish Kurdish-language education.

“Despite the state of war, an educational system was established. Although it had shortcomings, it represented a major achievement and a historic step in the history of Rojava,” he said.

Abdi praised families who had sent their children to Kurdish schools despite the challenges posed by the war and difficult circumstances. He also commended teachers and educational staff for their efforts to promote and teach the Kurdish language over the past 14 years.

He said that since the fall of the Ba’ath regime, efforts had been ongoing for one year and eight months to secure official recognition of Kurdish within Syria’s education system.

“We held numerous meetings and discussions, and these efforts resulted in a decision by the Ministry of Education concerning the Kurdish language,” Abdi said.

However, he noted that the public and students had objected to the decision, considering it insufficient, and had continued to press for their rights.

“They took a stand and fought for their rights—a right that belongs to them, and we stand with them,” he said.

Abdi stressed, however, that with the academic year already under way and Syria in a transitional phase, it was important to continue the educational process and ensure its success.

He said measures had been put in place to address potential difficulties faced by students who had previously studied in Kurdish, assuring families that their children would not encounter problems. Students would learn Arabic while continuing their education in Kurdish, he added.

The former commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces called on families to enrol their children in schools where Kurdish is the primary language of instruction, saying this would help ensure a successful academic year and smooth transition.

He said the aim was to achieve a higher standard of Kurdish-language education in the following academic year, laying the groundwork for securing the Kurdish people’s full linguistic rights.

Abdi also stressed that the curricula for ninth grade and the third year of secondary school would follow the guidelines of the Autonomous Administration. He therefore called on students to complete their studies within the Kurdish education system to help safeguard their future.

He further said that meetings and discussions were continuing over the official status of Rojava and Kobani universities.

“Although no decision has been reached yet, we hope for a favourable outcome that benefits the students of both universities,” he said.

Abdi also called on students who had graduated from Kurdish-language secondary schools to apply for university admission in accordance with the Ministry of Higher Education’s requirements, in order to secure places at the two universities.

Concluding his message, Abdi congratulated all students on the start of the new academic year and wished them success and a prosperous year ahead.


PUKMEDIA