Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Marks Start of New Academic Year and Announces Infrastructure Developments
Prime Minister Masrour Barzani celebrated the beginning of the 2024-2025 academic year by visiting Najiba Khan Jalizadeh Primary School in Koya on Wednesday. The prime minister participated in a bell-ringing ceremony to mark the occasion and extended his heartfelt congratulations to students and teachers.
In his address, PM Barzani praised educators for their vital role in shaping the future of the region. “Teachers have always been at the forefront of serving our people and country by educating a new generation,” he stated. He expressed hopes for the new academic year to be filled with “peace, success, and happiness for all students,” and wished success to the students at the school and throughout Kurdistan.
Highlighting the significance of the school’s namesake, Najiba Khan Jalizadeh, the prime minister shared her inspiring story. He noted that she was the first girl to attend a mixed school in Koya 100 years ago, a time when gender discrimination was prevalent. “By sending Najiba Khan to a mixed school, a new era began,” he remarked, celebrating Koya as a historical center of knowledge and progress.
PM Barzani also announced plans to commence the long-awaited construction of the Erbil-Koya road in the coming days, a project anticipated by residents of both cities for years. “We are committed to starting and completing this project in the coming days,” he affirmed, acknowledging previous delays since the foundation stone was laid in 2012.
In addition to the academic festivities, September 25 marked the seventh anniversary of the Kurdistan Region's independence referendum, which PM Barzani referred to as a “sacred day.” He congratulated the people of Kurdistan on this historic occasion.
Furthermore, the day marked the beginning of the election campaign for the upcoming parliamentary elections, set to run until October 15. PM Barzani urged political parties to engage in a peaceful and civilized campaign, emphasizing that the success of the elections should serve the interests of the people and uphold their rights.
