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A pressing and persistent issue has been brought to light by the Kurdistan Teachers’ Union (KTU): The excessive number of holidays in the academic calendar has significantly disrupted the educational process, leaving both teachers and students struggling to keep up with the curriculum.

The need for adequate instructional time

Since the curriculum changes in 2007 and 2008, there has been a consistent affirmation from educators that students need adequate time to complete their educational programs. This time is essential for teachers to effectively impart knowledge and for students to properly assimilate it, preparing them for future academic challenges. However, the reality has been far from ideal.

"The required amount of instructional time—30 weeks, or 200 days, or 900 hours—has not been met," KTU President Abdulwahed Muhammad Haje stated. For instance, the 2012–2013 academic year, considered the most successful, saw only 133 days of actual teaching, excluding exam days. Efforts to extend instructional hours, such as those during Dr. Ismat's tenure as education minister, have failed, one of the most important reasons for that being the excessive number of holidays.

Government awareness and inaction

The issue is not new, the KTU leader noted. During a conference held by Dr. Barham Salih, former Prime Minister of the Kurdistan government (2009-2012), the problem of too many holidays was already discussed extensively. Despite the awareness among government officials, no substantial measures have been taken to address this issue. Instead, the number of teaching days has been reduced from six to five, exacerbating the problem.

The negative impact on teachers and students

Wealthy nations annually review and address educational shortcomings, but in Kurdistan, the situation remains unchanged. Research on the impact of holidays on education has shown that too many holidays lead to frustration among teachers and hinder the educational process. "This year alone, 30 days were designated as holidays in the first semester, with additional days lost to electoral purposes and census procedures," Haje explained.

Arbitrary declarations of holidays

The arbitrary declaration of holidays, often influenced by political motives, has further complicated the situation. For example, holidays are sometimes extended to create long weekends, disrupting the academic schedule. This practice has led to a significant reduction in teaching days, much to the dismay of educators who struggle to complete their syllabi.

The Ministry's responsibility

Haje is adamant that the Ministry of Education bears the responsibility for this issue. While political events and national holidays are unavoidable, the ministry must ensure that the academic calendar is not excessively disrupted. He reported that an old teacher poignantly remarked that the abundance of holidays allows the children of political leaders to enjoy vacations abroad, while the less fortunate students suffer the consequences.

Proposed solutions

To address this pressing issue, the following measures are proposed:

• Establish a dedicated educational calendar free of arbitrary holidays, except for religious and national holidays like Newroz (the arrival of spring and new year in Kurdish culture).
• Ensure that at least 200 days are allocated for teaching to allow for the completion of the curriculum.
• Guarantee full compensation for teachers to prevent forced holidays that disrupt the educational process.

"Education is the cornerstone of a nation's development. It is imperative that the Kurdistan government takes immediate action to reform the academic calendar and provide students with the uninterrupted education they deserve," Haje concluded.

A long-standing issue

Haje had already reported that, during the 2022-2023 academic year, 173 days were used to study, for the studying time of 692 hours, which was much less than the full academic year.

He also explained: “Many teachers told me that their biggest concern is not Saturdays becoming holidays, but several other basic issues related to the need to implement measures aiming to enhance the status of the teaching profession”.

These actions included:

• Salaries should be paid on time.
• Promotions should be granted.
• Great attention should be paid to the continuous development of teachers, including lecturers.
• A law must be adopted protecting teachers and their dignity.

According to Haje, “these measures will encourage teachers to improve their teaching skills and accomplish their tasks correctly, as they have been doing constantly for their students’ benefit”.