War in Kobanê no obstacle to education in mother tongue!
MEHMET ZEKİ ÇİÇEK / ÇAĞDAŞ KAPLAN
KOBANÊ (DİHA) - As the historic resistance of the YPG/YPJ fighters continues against the ISIS gangs in Kobanê, children and women’s need for mother tongue education has not been forgotten. Despite the conditions of conflict Kurdish education is being provided by voluntary teachers.
After years of assimilation policies and denial under the Syrian regime mother tongue education is continuing in the war-ravaged city despite the attacks of ISIS gangs.
Minister a volunteer teacher
Classes are taking place in homes on account of schools not being safe, with children and women receiving education in 7 separate groups. Initially, students are taught the Kurdish alphabet and grammar. One of the teachers is Minister of Communication Şevin Mahmud. The Minister said they had started the lessons in order to distract the woman and children from the grim reality of war. Mahmud said the classes took place every other day, adding that in addition to problems of lack of premises, they also needed educational materials. Mahmud said they were in contact with volunteers teaching children from Kobanê in Suruç, calling on people to help meet the needs of the children of Kobanê.
'They are learning Kurdish'
Ruhilat Ali, a young woman who is attending the classes, is happy to be learning her mother tongue. Ali said: “We stayed here as we wanted to be with the fighters of the YPG and YPJ and because we did not want to leave our land.” A child, Narin Ali, was busy writing the letters written on the board by her teacher in her exercise book. She said: “We want to study like other children and to learn Kurdish.”
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