The Kurdish Research Association, which has suspended face-to-face education in favour of online teaching, provided education in the Kurdish language to more than 4,000 people in the past year, according to a report by the Mesopotamia Agency.
In April 2020 the Kurdish Research Association’s first course taught the Kurmancî dialect to 903 people and the Kirmanckî dialect to 145 people.
In June, 1,800 people received an education in the Kurmancî dialect and 207 in the Kirmanckî dialect, while in October 500 people learned Kurmancî and 100 learned Kirmanckî.
In addition, courses for education in the Soranî, Kelhurî and Hewremanî dialects attracted 400 participants.
Education for 80 children, consisting of two groups between the ages of four and six, and seven and 10, was launched on 21 February, International Mother Language Day. A new course will begin after the Newroz Festival.
Sîpan Haco, the association’s executive and a Kurdish teacher, commented on the wide reach of the online courses, as well as the difficulties they faced.
Worldwide participation
Haco said that by using an online system they were able to reach more people, noting that the attention increased day by day as students spread the word and encouraged others to participate.
Before the pandemic they were only able to provide education for people in İstanbul, but now they had the chance to reach learners from all over the world thanks to online education. “We received applications from everywhere in world. Students came from Kurdistan, Turkey and the rest of the world. That became an opportunity for us. People can learn Kurdish by staying in their homes or having an internet connection. For that reason, online education became beneficial”.
The level of attention towards lectures was solid, said Haco, and both students and teachers learned from the process.
Call for Kurdish language
Haco pointed out that language was one of the most important values of a nation. “There are significant opportunities for all Kurds to learn, read, write and improve their language today. We hope that even more will participate in future”.
