Administrative and educational officials in Kirkuk, along with Kurdish teachers and students, organized a festival titled “Achievements and The New Stage in Returning to the Mother Tongue” (Destkeft û Qonaxa Nû ya ji bo Vegera li Zimanê Dayîkê). Speeches were made at the event on the importance of the Kurdish language and the future of mother-tongue education.
The festival began with the recitation of the “Ey Reqîb” anthem and a minute of silence in memory of the martyrs.
Instructor Kameran, in charge of Kurdish education in Kirkuk, stated in his speech: “We are proud of our achievements in the field of Kurdish education and the efforts of our students. Our teachers will take these achievements even further in a very short time.”
Kameran’s speech was followed by a slideshow presentation on work for Kurdish language education in Kirkuk. Elementary school students took to the stage and performed artistic acts. Two female students read poems they had written and received loud applause from the audience.
Speeches and events throughout the festival highlighted the importance of the Kurdish language in the areas of identity, culture, and education. At the end of the program, the Kirkuk Kurdish Education Directorate presented achievement and honor awards to some teachers and students.