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Why the mood of the south of Kurdistan’s
youth is in a state of revolution
21.2.2011
By Mufid Abdulla |
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February 21, 2011
When considering detailed accounts of the 17th
February demonstrations in the city of Sulaimaniyah,
it becomes more and more evident that the average
age range of most of the participants is between 15
to 25 years old. We must therefore ask ourselves why
the youth of Kurdistan is in a revolutionary state
of mind. When Kurdistan was liberated in 1991,
almost 20 years ago, this future generation has
since grown up in conditions of poverty; resulting
in increasing anger and frustration. A far greater
proportion of children are now reaching adulthood
and are suffering, albeit in different ways, from
the early stages of their lives to adulthood.
Primary school, or what is also known as infant
school, has become the main core of the livelihood
of a child’s education. There are some schools in
the city of Sulaimaniyah in which there are three
different schools having lessons in one day. So we
are talking about 9 hours teaching for three
different schools in one building. These kids are
literally having at least three hours education per
day compared to any developed country where it is
compulsory that children should have at least 6
hours a day of learning several subjects.
When they move on to secondary and preparatory
school, the conditions are slightly better but not a
major difference as these schools still follow the
old syllabus of education. The combination of this
old style of teaching together with bad schooling
has fostered a generation based on anger and
alienation. Since the average life expectation of
Kurdistan is almost 60 years, the population of the
youth has outstripped the old generation.
For those young people who have the opportunity to
attend university, there is no outcome of job
security and a stable salary to contribute to the
adoption of a permanent family structure. We have
the largest population of graduates without jobs.
These factors require revolutionary changes and such
great changes always bring social upheaval. This is
what we are witnessing at present.
The future of our youth under the new KRG is grey,
and will continue to be very grey. For a country
which is dominated by youth we need a dynamic
economy to satisfy their demands. We need a model of
economy which will bring hope and gainful
employment. To date the KRG have failed to do so;
that is the reason for the youth’s rebellious state
of mind which is creating a revolution. My heart is
bleeding for the several youths who have been killed
and injured in that demonstration on the 17th
February. Nothing can justify this. It reminds me of
the young Sardasht Osman and Soran Mama Ham who were
both killed in cold blood. These young men were full
of hope and joy only asking for their fair share in
their lives of the integral aspects of a democratic
society.
The KDP leadership needs to urgently come up with
resolute answers to this country’s demands for
change.
You may reach the author at
mufid@btconnect.com
Copyright © 2011 ekurd.net
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