The Kurdistan Region’s Minister of Education presided over a gathering at Cihan University-Erbil for teachers participating in the Pedagogy Course
The ceremony of awarding certificates to teachers who participated in the second round of the Ministry of Education was held in the presence of Dr. Alan Hama Saeed, Minister of Education of the Kurdistan Regional Government; Professor. Dr. Amjad Saber Al-Delawi; President of Cihan University – Erbil; Dr. Nawzad Yahya Bajgir, head of the Cihan University Board of Trustees; assistant and head of the scientific departments of Cihan University – Erbil; and several advisors and general managers of the Ministry of Education.
This ceremony, which took place on Thursday, May 30, in the Cihan University-Erbil conference hall, began with a moment of silence in remembrance of the martyrs’ souls. Following this, several speeches were made in honor of the occasion, starting with a speech by Professor Dr. Amjad Saber Al-Delawi, president of Cihan University-Erbil, who welcomed the guests and the Minister of Education before congratulating the attendees and the participating teachers on their successful completion of the pedagogy course. He is still in favor of this collaboration as well as the collaboration between his government and universities.
“The products of the Ministry of Education reach the Ministry of Higher Education universities and institutes,” the president of Cihan University-Erbil said in another section of his speech regarding these courses. “This means that the evaluation of the products and work of the Ministry of Education in universities will be shown,” he continued. “It will be shown that opening these courses is not only to raise the level of science and knowledge of the participating teachers, but also look further at the courses and expect the participants to play a role in their schools.” teaching pupils to the highest academic standard possible so that they arrive at university with one of their weakest areas What we have found in universities is the weakness of the student’s personality, which cannot be resolved solely by the Ministry of Higher Education and universities if the Ministry of Education and universities generally, and universities worldwide specifically, do not cooperate in this way. Thus, we are able to learn about the Ministry of Education’s needs through these courses while also having Ministry of Education teachers understand university requirements.
Speaking more clearly about the various facets of education and student personalities, Professor. Dr. Amjad Saber Al-Delawi stated: “At Cihan University-Erbil, we have special lessons about critical thinking, academic debate, and communication skills. These three lessons have a special role in allowing students to think independently and express their opinions and not become a tool for only teachers to make assumptions. We see a deficiency in this field. Yet, a more extensive effort across all colleges is needed for this stage.
In a different section of his speech, the president of Cihan University-Erbil discussed the necessity of starting an expert course, saying that “we do need specialist courses, especially in the fields of biology and mathematics, which are the foundation of critical thinking.” “We have managed the second pedagogy course in our university so far.” Due to the constant evolution and changes in the field of sciences, Dr. Alan Hama Saeed was approached to assist in transforming the upcoming course into an expert-level program. The objective was to further enhance the capabilities of the teachers. It was emphasized that every university has a dedicated unit responsible for continuous education, aimed at elevating the proficiency of all educators, including professors and individuals with doctorate degrees. This is achieved by encouraging their participation in three to four courses annually. In line with this approach, Cihan University- Erbil organizes six to ten courses each year for its lecturers. It is expected that the teachers will prioritize their efforts towards raising the academic standards following their expertise.
Dr. Nawzad Yahya Bajger emphasized the significance of prioritizing the education of students over the act of teaching itself. He highlighted the importance of preparing for the future, as skilled educators play a crucial role in shaping a positive future. Recognizing pedagogy as a fundamental requirement, he put forth several suggestions within this framework.
During another segment of the ceremony, Dr. Alan Hama saeed, the Minister of Education, delivered a speech and expressed gratitude to Cihan University-Erbil for overseeing and organizing the second phase of pedagogy specifically designed for Ministry of Education teachers. Additionally, Professor Dr. Amjad Saber Al-Delawi, the president of Cihan University-Erbil, emphasized the significance of initiating an advanced course and expressed optimism about launching the course at the university.
In another part of his address, he delved into the initiatives that Cihan University-Erbil had provided to educators from the Ministry of Education. He underscored that the foundation of all advancements and reforms in education hinges on the competence of teachers. Consequently, the Ministry of Education has launched a comprehensive teacher training program comprising eight unique modules for the academic year 2023-2024.
At the end of the program, all second-grade teachers were congratulated and given graduation diplomas.
