Erbil, Kurdistan region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) - In a conference on education sector, held yesterday by the Ministry of Education of Kurdistan regional Government, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, made emphasis on developing “a framework for an education system that corresponds to the aspirations of the twenty first century.”

He said, “To prepare the next generation to be successful in life, the education system in Kurdistan must apply new, innovative methods.”

Following is the text of the speech

Good morning ladies and gentlemen!

Today we live in a very different world. In the past, people’s occupation was usually determined by what they studied, and they often continued in the same job until their retirement. What people studied and the job they worked were directly linked.

During the past century, living conditions in Kurdistan were especially difficult. Life was uncertain. Earlier generations, and some of us, did not know what would happen next -- when would our houses, villages, towns be bombed? Where would we live as refugees, and when would we be able to return home?!

Fortunately, Kurdistan’s existence is no longer under threat. We say this despite the fact of the barbarity of the Islamic State terrorist organisation, ISIS, that has harmed the people of Kurdistan, and also despite the fact some Kurdish youth have been seduced by its extremist ideology.

Connecting Kurdistan with the outside world affects our health and education, and other service and market sectors. Foreign and local investors need an active, qualified and experienced workforce for them to be able to contribute to the development of Kurdistan’s economy and to raise the living standards of our people.

We should prepare ourselves for the future. We should always anticipate a different future compared to our current conditions. In order to adapt the responsibilities of future generations to future developments, we need to constantly review our education system. If our education system is not continuously improved, it cannot help to develop the country, and it cannot become the principal driving force to solve social, cultural, political, and economic issues.

Until the end of the last century, teaching focused on three main areas: Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic. Today, apart from reading, writing and arithmetic there is competence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics that are needed.

To prepare the next generation to be successful in life, the education system in Kurdistan must apply new, innovative methods.
Apart from basic education, the students of Kurdistan must continuously develop their knowledge, understanding, and expertise, and acquire and upgrade their skills during their formal educational period and throughout their lives.

Today, to be qualified requires development in basic academic subjects. This is necessary for students in order to be able to understand the sciences, think critically and constructively, and deliver their thinking competently and convincingly. That is the reason why a high level of knowledge and understanding in basic academic subjects are necessary.

Only on a solid and right foundation will students become lifelong learners to be successful in their lives, think critically and constructively, and find and implement satisfactory solutions for today’s and tomorrow’s problems.

Cooperation and coordination with competent parties should be part of their thinking and behaviour. Peaceful social, political, and religious coexistence is our current and future challenge. Coexistence and tolerance are rooted in all of us from childhood. We should educate our future generation based on these values. Schools, teachers, and employees of our ministries can play a positive role in this regard.

Meanwhile, we must not forget that mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and all our family members can also guide the next generation responsibly. Most of them remember poverty, displacement, and difficulties. I believe that in order to prepare our future generations to contribute to Kurdistan’s development within a global economy and a changing world we must build our education on a new foundation.

Ensuring high educational standards, progressive education programmes, employees skill-upgrading, and improving the education environment will create conditions for the success of our students.

I think that in teaching or management or generally in life there are three goals that are very important for understanding our responsibility and duty in the field of education: independence, authority, objective
Independence, in the sense of autonomy. Everyone desires to decide his or her own life and the way to pursue his or her decision. Independence not only means freedom, it also means responsibility.
Authority, meaning continuous desire for improving the work we do.
Objective, means that every one of us should be part of something bigger than us, which gives sense to our lives.

An independent teacher, in an independent class, in an independent school, under the supervision of an independent ministry, directs teaching and education in a way that the teacher and students exert effort to overcome all the problems they encounter, without waiting for someone from the school, the ministry, or government to tell them what to do, how to think, or how to solve problems.

In any independent classroom, we can, with some effort, find solutions for those problems facing us. Any student who is taught in this manner can overcome difficulties in life and think independently and courageously.

A student, a teacher, or an employee, who is independent in daily life, superior at work, and capable of solving problems of learning, teaching, and management will feel part of an endeavour bigger than them, see life meaningfully, and be able to participate in rebuilding and developing the country. The future student of Kurdistan must be the force behind employment, economic growth, and constructive changes in the country.

The twenty first century needs citizens who will not only desire to be creative, but also makes creativity an inseparable part of his or her daily thinking. Applying new technologies, integrity, self-management, and understanding the forces of change combined together will prepare the leaders of tomorrow.

Our students of today are our leaders of tomorrow. For them to succeed, to be able to protect our homeland and constantly develop it, they must equip themselves with tools of peace and construction for the near and distant future. In this way, the success of the education system will ensure a more brilliant future for all of us.

I hope that at this conference you will develop a framework for an education system that corresponds to the aspirations of the twenty first century. Implementing such a system would need continuous work. The first step starts on a day like today. Please do not be hesitant, and do not deviate from the path of building an education system with future prospects.

I wish you success in your task of modernising the education system so that we face the future with improved capacities to learn and apply our leanings to protect, promote, and create a peaceful and prosperous Kurdistan.

Thank you, and welcome again.