Chaldo-Assyrian Student and Youth Union criticizes neglect of Syriac education process in Kurdistan Region of Iraq

ERBIL, Iraq — In support and defense of the rights of the Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian people in Iraq, the Chaldo-Assyrian Students and Youth Union issued a statement concerning the error of the Ministry of Education which negatively affected students and created a state of anxiety and confusion.

The statement declared that the students were surprised by the delay in the arrival of mathematics exam papers to the sixth-grade students in several Syriac schools in Nohadra (Duhok) Governorate.

The exam papers of the scientific and literary sections were mixed up and distributed in reverse to the students.

Hours later, while the students were waiting for the mistake to be corrected, the exam papers were distributed in Arabic — not translated into Syriac — which led to a state of anxiety and confusion for students who are in a critical stage of study.

The statement added that neglect, continuous mistakes, and tampering with the educational process are enough to undermine students’ confidence in the education system. The statement also noted that this is not the first time that students in Syriac schools suffer from the neglect of government agencies.

The Chaldo-Assyrian Student and Youth Union held the Ministry of Education and the departments and directorate of Syriac Education in Erbil responsible for the success or failure of the education system.

The Union demanded that negligent administrators be held accountable and the issue be addressed quickly in order to restore students’ right to efficient and properly administered exams up to international education standards.