Abdulwahed Mohammed
President of the kurdistan teachers union • Irak

Everyone understands an important fact: educational centers do not belong to a single person or political party. They do not represent only one group of people. They are not institutions that should be used by a certain political side for their own goals. This is something known not only among those who truly value education, but among most of society. Schools should never be a place for political manipulation.

Around the world, especially in advanced countries, educational institutions are considered sacred and highly respected. They are national institutions that serve every group of society—different ideologies, different backgrounds, and different view points. Because of their importance, they are protected. No one is allowed to interfere unless it improves education and serves its true goals.

Leadership positions in education—such as school principals, assistants, and teachers—should be selected only by merit, not by political affiliation. No one should promote or symbolize themselves individually inside a school. Everything should be for the student. The goal is to create educated people who benefit the country.

In simple terms, political ideas—whether Red, Yellow, Green, Purple, or any other—must not be taught or imposed on students. The duty of teachers and students is only one thing: education, learning, and love for the nation. Anything outside this purpose is misuse.

Sadly, in the Kurdistan Region, this principle is not protected. Many educational centers have been turned into political tools. Most principals and assistants are chosen only because they are loyal to a specific party. They use schools to campaign for that party, sometimes even through force. This breaks the basic laws and damages education itself.

Recently, teachers and students have been forced to participate in events that have nothing to do with education, only to serve a political party. This has caused serious harm. Instead of being protected from interference, schools have been pressured even more.

Here are clear examples from the Iraqi National Council elections on November 11 of this year:
1. Political meetings were held during school hours, with party symbols and scarves.
2. Many school leaders were openly campaigning and asking teachers to vote for a certain party. This violates personal freedom and human rights.
3. In many schools, students were asked to vote for a specific party and even bring their parents’ voting cards. They faced hidden threats such as lowering grades or punishment.
4.There were also promises of money and benefits, like being allowed into exams.

What happened is not only a violation of the sanctity of education—it is a dangerous crime against the future of the educational system. It destroys the value of education. If this continues, schools will simply become political tools. Every party will want to use them for its own benefit. This will destroy principles, spread political control everywhere, and threaten social peace.

For this reason, I strongly call on political parties and educational leaders to protect educational centers and stop political interference. Schools do not belong to one party—they belong to society, to the present, and to the future.