The Kurdistan Region’s Minister of Education, Alan Hama Saeed, announced a significant reduction in the region’s illiteracy rate, now standing at 16 percent, down from 24 percent in 2018. The minister revealed this progress during a press conference on Sunday, highlighting the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) ongoing efforts to enhance the education sector under the ninth cabinet.

Minister Saeed expressed optimism about further reducing the illiteracy rate in the coming years, attributing the progress to the collective efforts of the Ministry of Education and the broader KRG.

“One of our significant achievements has been the reduction of the illiteracy rate from 24 percent in 2018 to 16 percent today, and we anticipate further progress in the near future,” Minister Saeed stated.

The Minister also praised the decisions of Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, which he said have greatly benefited the education sector. A key achievement under the ninth cabinet was the permanent recruitment of over 40,000 lecturers from the Ministries of Education and Higher Education and Scientific Research. In addition, more than 5,880 contract teachers were granted permanent positions, reflecting the KRG’s commitment to improving job security and stability for educators.

In a move towards inclusive education, the Ministry has recruited 748 special education teachers to support children with disabilities in public schools. This initiative marks a significant step toward ensuring equal educational opportunities for all students in the Kurdistan Region.

Looking ahead to the upcoming academic year (2024-2025), the KRG’s Ministry of Education has printed nearly 19.8 million textbooks, a project that cost over 24 billion dinars. In an effort to improve the quality of educational content, the Ministry has revised and redesigned 407 textbooks across various languages, including Kurdish (in both Lower and Upper Kurdish dialects), Arabic, English, and Syriac.

Meanwhile, Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw announced the construction of 19 new schools in underprivileged areas of Erbil. These schools, which are set to open for the 2024-2025 academic year, are part of the ninth cabinet’s broader focus on expanding educational infrastructure in the region.