Kurdistan’s teachers fear being replaced over strikes
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Teachers in the Raparin administration of Sulaimani province who went out on strike are concerned they may lose their jobs after a statement from the education directorate called on them to “answer their phones.”
The majority of teachers in Sulaimani, Halabja, Garmiyan, and Raparin who walked off the job in September 2023 over unpaid wages have returned to work in recent weeks after the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) education ministry agreed to meet some of their demands. Many teachers, however, have continued to protest, mistrustful of the government’s promises.
On Saturday, the Raparin education directorate issued a statement: “We call on all the non-contract substitute teachers to answer the calls from our directorate or make sure that their registered phone numbers are not switched off, otherwise they will be responsible for the demotion in their ranking when appointing teachers.”
Yousif Jalal, head of the directorate’s media and communications, told Rudaw’s Soran Hussein that the statement is not about replacing non-contract teachers, but rather to update the list and remove those who have resigned.
The teachers, however, believe it is a pressure tactic.
“What has been published is psychological pressure against the teachers, and is telling them if they do not come back, we will put substitutes in their place,” said Karokh Abdullah, a representative of non-contract teachers.
Abdullah stressed that the official rankings must be honored and warned that they will “react strongly” if the directorate goes ahead with rearranging the list of substitute teachers.
Striking teachers in several parts of Sulaimani province are set to hold large protests on Sunday.
In addition to demanding payment of their salaries on time, teachers have also demanded the KRG hand out promotions where due and offer contracts to non-contract teachers.
The majority of teachers in Sulaimani, Halabja, Garmiyan, and Raparin who walked off the job in September 2023 over unpaid wages have returned to work in recent weeks after the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) education ministry agreed to meet some of their demands. Many teachers, however, have continued to protest, mistrustful of the government’s promises.
On Saturday, the Raparin education directorate issued a statement: “We call on all the non-contract substitute teachers to answer the calls from our directorate or make sure that their registered phone numbers are not switched off, otherwise they will be responsible for the demotion in their ranking when appointing teachers.”
Yousif Jalal, head of the directorate’s media and communications, told Rudaw’s Soran Hussein that the statement is not about replacing non-contract teachers, but rather to update the list and remove those who have resigned.
The teachers, however, believe it is a pressure tactic.
“What has been published is psychological pressure against the teachers, and is telling them if they do not come back, we will put substitutes in their place,” said Karokh Abdullah, a representative of non-contract teachers.
Abdullah stressed that the official rankings must be honored and warned that they will “react strongly” if the directorate goes ahead with rearranging the list of substitute teachers.
Striking teachers in several parts of Sulaimani province are set to hold large protests on Sunday.
In addition to demanding payment of their salaries on time, teachers have also demanded the KRG hand out promotions where due and offer contracts to non-contract teachers.