Kurdistan Region sees significant drop in illiteracy rates, major advancements in education under 9th cabinet
“One of our significant achievements has been the reduction of the illiteracy rate from 24 percent in 2018 to 16 percent today, and we anticipate further progress in the near future,” Minister Saeed stated.

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - The illiteracy rate in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq has decreased to 16 percent, according to the Kurdistan Region’s Minister of Education, Alan Hama Saeed.
This figure represents a significant improvement from 2018, when the illiteracy rate stood at 24 percent. The Minister of Education expects this rate to decrease even further in the coming years.
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Minister Alan Hama Saeed presented the achievements and ongoing efforts of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Ministry of Education under the ninth cabinet.
He highlighted the strides made in reducing illiteracy and other key developments within the education sector.
“One of our significant achievements has been the reduction of the illiteracy rate from 24 percent in 2018 to 16 percent today, and we anticipate further progress in the near future,” Minister Saeed stated.
The Minister also emphasized the positive impact of decisions made by Prime Minister Masrour Barzani that have greatly benefited the education sector. Among these, the recruitment of over 40,000 lecturers from both the Ministries of Education and Higher Education and Scientific Research on a permanent contract basis was a landmark decision.
Additionally, more than 5,880 contract teachers were granted permanent positions at the beginning of the ninth cabinet’s term.
In a further commitment to inclusive education, 748 special education teachers were recruited for public schools to support children with disabilities, marking a significant step towards a more equitable education system in the Kurdistan Region.
To prepare for the upcoming academic year (2024-2025), the KRG’s Ministry of Education has printed nearly 19.8 million textbooks, a project that cost over 24 billion dinars.
As part of its efforts to improve educational content, the Ministry has revised and redesigned 407 textbooks across various languages, including Kurdish (in both Lower and Upper Kurdish dialects), Arabic, English, and Syriac.
In parallel, Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw announced that, under the guidance of Prime Minister Barzani and as part of the ninth cabinet’s focus on the education sector, the construction of 19 new schools has begun in underprivileged areas of Erbil.
These schools are set to open for the 2024-2025 academic year, providing much-needed educational infrastructure in the region.
You can find further information here for more details on the work and activities of the ninth cabinet in the education sector.
This series of initiatives underscores the KRG’s commitment to improving educational outcomes and supporting the development of a well-educated populace.