Kurdistan Flag Raised as Kurdish Education Begins in Kirkuk

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Kurdish-language schools in Kirkuk began the new academic year on Sunday with the raising of the Kurdistan flag, as more than 104,000 students returned to classrooms across 562 schools and kindergartens.

The opening of the 2026-2027 school year coincided with the nationwide return of more than 12 million students across Iraq, but in Kirkuk the start of Kurdish-language education carried particular significance for students, teachers and families.

According to figures provided by the Kurdish Education Directorate in Kirkuk, around 8,200 teachers and administrative staff are overseeing the education process this year.

The Kurdistan Regional Government has also provided 1.2 million textbooks and other educational requirements ahead of the opening of schools.

Kamaran Ali, Director of Kurdish Education in Kirkuk, previously told Kurdistan24 correspondent Hemn Delo that preparations for the academic year had been completed and that schools were ready to receive students without significant shortages affecting the start of classes.

The KRG also pledged additional classroom support, including 1,000 student desks and 500 whiteboards, as part of efforts to improve conditions in Kurdish-language schools.

The raising of the Kurdistan flag at schools on the first day accompanied the broader return to classes and reflected the identity of the Kurdish education system operating in Kirkuk.

Beyond the symbolism of the opening day, education officials have also pointed to academic performance as one of the reasons behind growing demand for Kurdish-language schooling.

Ali said the overall pass rate in sixth-grade primary school examinations reached 82 percent last year.

He also said students studying in Kurdish achieved first and second place at the Iraqi level.

In the first examination round, 140 students achieved distinction, while another 50 students recorded distinction during the second round.

In addition, 89 Kurdish schools recorded a 100 percent pass rate in the first examination round.

Ali said those results had encouraged more families to choose Kurdish-language education, with a noticeable number of students transferring from Arabic-language schools.

He linked the movement directly to confidence in the performance of Kurdish schools and the results achieved by students in the previous academic year.

The Directorate of Kurdish Education therefore begins the new year with both a large student population and increased expectations following last year's examination performance.

The scale of the system is considerable.

More than 104,000 students are now spread across hundreds of schools and kindergartens, while thousands of teachers and employees are responsible for maintaining teaching and administration throughout the year.

The availability of textbooks and classroom materials has also been central to preparations.

Education officials said the KRG had responded to the requests submitted by the directorate and provided the logistical support needed to begin the school year.

According to the primary report, observers have viewed the increasing transfer of students into Kurdish-language classes as a sign of growing confidence in the system and its educational standards.

That assessment is also reflected in the figures cited by the directorate, which point to rising enrollment alongside strong examination results.

For students in Kirkuk, Sunday marked more than the formal beginning of another school year.

It brought together the return to classrooms, the raising of the Kurdistan flag and a Kurdish education system that officials say is attracting greater interest from families.

With more than 104,000 students, 8,200 staff and 1.2 million textbooks in place, the Kurdish Education Directorate says the new academic year has begun with preparations complete and with a growing number of students choosing to study in their mother tongue.