ROJ HOZAN

Qamishlo – Mothers are the first teachers of their children. The first goal of education is to provide knowledge. The International Mother Language Day is celebrated in Rojava as well as all over the world on February 21. Before the revolution in Rojava Kurdistan, people learnt their mother language secretly. But today, people living in Rojava can receive education freely in their mother language.

International Mother Language Day

In 1948, the Government of Pakistan declared Urdu to be the sole national language of Pakistan, even though Bengali or Bangla was spoken by the majority of people combining East Pakistan and West Pakistan. The East Pakistan people protested it. On 21 February 1952, the students of the University of Dhaka arranged massive rallies to protest it but police opened fire on rallies and killed many students. 21 February was declared to be the International Mother Language Day by UNESCO in 1999. It has been observed throughout the world since 21 February 2000. February 21 is very important for the Kurdish people who have been struggling against the oppression and bans against their language for years. The mother languages of minorities have still faced bans all around the world.

Banned mother language in Syria

All people from different nationalities were deprived of the right to education in their mother language under the Baathist regime in Syria. The language of education was only Arabic and if children spoke their mother language with their friends at school, they were subjected to ill-treatment. Children learnt only the Arab language and culture at schools. For years, people from different nationalities faced an unjust system in Syria. The Kurdish people suffered the most from the injustice and oppression because speaking their mother language was considered a crime. People were jailed for speaking their mother language.

Before the revolution in Rojava Kurdistan, people learnt their mother language secretly because they faced oppression by the Syrian regime. Kurdish children, who learnt their mother language at home, had difficulties in learning Arabic at schools. They didn’t know anything about the history, identity, culture and language of Arabs. Since the revolution in Rojava Kurdistan, people from different nationalities and identities can get an education in their mother language. In 2013, Kurdish Language Institution (SZK) was founded. But people used Arabic words when they spoke Kurdish due to year-lasting policies of assimilation against the Kurdish language. But after the revolution, people have spoken their mother language in every part of life and they have many teachers, who can teach the Kurdish language to children.

“Communities preserve their existence through education”

Fatime Abdullah, an executive board member of the Democratic Society Academy, spoke to NuJINHA about the importance of education in the mother language.

“At the beginning of the revolution in Rojava Kurdistan, some of our moral values were protected by our mothers, but this protection was incomplete. Our society was divided by wrong education. Our people lived in fear, were not recognized and were taken away from all Kurdish values. But after the revolution, our society gradually united thanks to the right education based on the principle of the philosophy of the Democratic Nation. We founded our academies to protect our language and existence. Then education committees were formed to create a spirit of responsibility among people. Education is like giving a new soul to a dead body and brain. Communities preserve their existence through education. We can build a free society and future with the right education,” Fatime Abdullah told NuJINHA.

“Parents are the first teachers of their children”

Rojin Hinsen, an elementary school teacher, spoke to NuJINHA about the education system at elementary schools in NE Syria.

“Parents are the first teachers of their children. Education at elementary schools shapes the lives of children. When children start kindergarten at five, they begin to learn the letters, numbers, how they can communicate and play with their friends. Then, they begin to study at the elementary school; they learn their mother language, math, friendship, science, music, photography and sports. They learn both Arabic and Kurdish and then English. Our teaching methods are not like before. We support the students to come together and express their opinions. We encourage children to go to school. There is a love of teachers and students here, if the students love their teachers, they study more. The families of children trust us. We often discuss communication methods with them and take their thoughts into account. We try to educate children to build a free future,” she told us.

“All children receive education in their mother language”

Firyal Derwêş, a middle school teacher, told us that all children receive education in their mother language. “Secondary school students are going through a new education system. The Kurdish and Arab nations have the subjects but children receive education in their mother language. And we determine a plan and strategy together with students.”