[REVISION HISTORY]

Kurdish language education in Turkey

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2026-09-07 09:20 UTC → 2026-09-10 10:16 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Discussions regarding Kurdish language education in Turkey have focused on teacher appointments and the availability of elective courses. Ramazan Tekdemir, the Diyarbakır branch president of the Eğitim Bir-Sen union, called for an increase in Kurdish language teacher appointments and the removal of administrative obstacles, arguing that treating the mother tongue as more than a limited weekly elective is a requirement of democratic standards. Subsequent reports indicated a mixed situation regarding staffing. While the Eğitim-Bir-Sen Kurdish Commission reported a rise in teacher norms in Diyarbakır—noting Kurmanji positions reached 27 and Zazaca positions increased by five—political leaders raised concerns about a supply-demand gap. DEM Party MP Serhat Eren informed Parliament that despite tens of thousands of students expressing interest in Kurmanji and Kirmanckî courses for the 2025-2026 academic year, many schools remain unable to provide them due to insufficient staff. Eren noted that while the ministry identified a need for 30 teachers, only six candidates were admitted to the National Education Academy. Heading into the 2026-2027 academic year, education unions in Diyarbakır continue to report systemic difficulties. Hüdai Morsümbül, head of the Memur-Sen Kurdish Language Elective Course Monitoring Commission, stated that students face long-standing obstacles in accessing Kurdish and Zaza elective courses due to a lack of qualified teachers. In the Silvan district, schools have resorted to using teachers from other disciplines who hold master’s degrees in Kurdish to fill these gaps. Morsümbül has called for the appointment of licensed Kurdish teachers and regulatory revisions. Additionally, Saliha Zorlu, Co-Chair of the Eğitim-Sen Diyarbakır 1st Branch, noted that rising poverty and the use of low-paid, insecure substitute teachers to address vacancies are impacting the educational landscape. Zorlu also warned that the growth of private schools is deepening inequality and argued that schools require stronger psychosocial support rather than just increased security personnel.

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