Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Refugee Education Integration Policy?

The Refugee Education Integration Policy, “REIP”, is a policy developed by the Kurdistan Regional Government to ensure that refugee and asylum seeker children have access to quality education on an equal basis as host community children.

When will the Refugee Education Integration Policy be implemented?

The REIP is currently official government policy, with an expectation to have integration across all grades by 2030.

Why is the Refugee Education Integration Policy rolled out?

The REIP focuses on integrating refugees and asylum seekers into the Kurdistan Region of Iraq to ensure that children have the best possible start to integrate into Kurdish society. It allows children to learn the language, through day to day engagement in school  following the same curriculum as Kurdish children, fostering strong relationships with Kurdish children and integrating children into their hosting communities. By attending the same schools, and receiving the same qualifications, refugee children canhave equal opportunities as Kurdish children.

Access to inclusive and equitable quality education in national system creates conditions in which children and youth can learn, thrive, and develop their potential; build individual and collective resilience; experience and negotiate peaceful coexistence; and contribute to their societies. Inclusion is the best option for refugees and asylum seekers children and youth and their hosting communities.

How does the Refugee Education Integration Policy ensure non-discrimination of refugee and asylum seeker children?

The Kurdistan Regional Government will ensure that teachers, social workers, and school management will be trained on child protection and inclusion to ensure non-discrimination principles are applied. Social cohesion projects will also foster mutual understanding between displaced and host communities.

Primary school teachers are at the center of every child’s learning pathway. They provide access to the essential skillset every child requires to succeed in primary education and beyond. Teachers will be supported with relevant training, professional development, resources, pedagogical support, including psycho-social support needs to create safe, inclusive, and quality learning environments.

• How does the Refugee Education Integration Policy respect the cultural heritage and language of refugee and asylum seeker children?

Refugees and asylum seekers will continue to speak their own languages at home and Arabic classes can be attended by refugee and asylum seeker children outside of school. In Government schools, Arabic will be taught as part of the curriculum starting in grade 6, and extra-curricular activities focusing on learning Arabic can be supported by community structures inside and outside of camps.

Inclusion into the national education system provides more opportunities for refugee and asylum seeker children to integrate and fosters peaceful co-existence. Learning together with host community children helps refugee and asylum seeker children establish a social fabric with the host community and create mutual understanding for each other. The environment created is characterized by acceptance of each other and each other’s differences. Such acceptance is the fruitful ground that allows refugees to continue to practice their culture and heritage and provide their children with the opportunities to learn and foster the language of their country of origin.[FA1]

Why does the Refugee Education Integration Policy not allow children to be taught the Kurdish Curriculum in Arabic?

The Refugee Education Integration Policy aims to support refugee and asylum seeker children to complete primary education with recognized certification that can lead to secondary and other post-primary educational opportunities as well as access to tertiary education, vocational trainings, and livelihoods. Following the Kurdish curriculum with Kurdish as the language of instruction increases these opportunities and sets the foundation for successful integration.

How does the roll-out of the Refugee Education Integration Policy support parents in supporting their children with their Kurdish school work?

The Kurdistan Regional Government with the support of UN agencies and education partners will support offering Kurdish classes to parents as part of the roll-out of the REIP. Such classes will be free of charge and open to all parents who enroll their children in Government schools in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.[FA2]

How does the roll-out of the Refugee Education Integration Policy support children to succeed in school despite their language disadvantages?

The Kurdistan Regional Government with the support of UN agencies and education partners will train teachers in integration approaches and offer support through language classes, catch-up classes, and remedial classes for refugee and asylum seeker children who need additional support[FA3] .

What effect does the Refugee Education Integration Policy have on the recognition of school documentation outside of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq?

The Refugee Education Integration Policy promotes access to formal education in the Government education system of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. As such, all school diplomas received are recognised within Iraq and facilitate easier access to secondary and tertiary education, vocational training, and formal employment.

How does the Refugee Education Integration Policy solve the issue of equalization for those who attended school in the country of origin but cannot access documentation?

The Kurdistan Regional Government has an evaluation mechanism to access the skills and knowledge of children without education documentation, which can be used to determine in which school grade of Government schools in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq pupils can be enrolled.

[FA4] Will students attending 8th to 12th grade be included in the roll-out of the Refugee Education Integration Policy ?

The Refugee Education Integration Policy is being rolled out gradually focusing currently on access to Government schools in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq for students attending primary level education in grades 1 to 7.  8th to 12th-grade education will be included over the upcoming academic years.

How does the Refugee Education Integration Policy address the issue of out of school children and children who dropped out of school?

Refugee and asylum seeker children who are out of school or who have missed substantial amounts of education will be supported to enrol in formal education in an appropriate grade in accordance with their age and educational capacity.

Where do children need to be registered to attend school under the Refugee Education Integration Policy?

Parents need to register their children in the school closest to their area of residence in accordance with the guidance provided by the respective Directorate of Education. For more information on the registration procedures for each grade please visit the Directorate of Education in your area of residence. You can find the relevant Directorate here.

What documentation is necessary to enroll children in the national school system for ?

For more information on the registration procedures please consult the

“Back to Learning” information materials here.

Where can I address my questions and concerns regarding the Refugee Education Integration Policy and school enrolment?

You can visit the Directorate of Education in your area of residence. You can find the relevant Directorate here and consult the “Back to Learning” information provided here.

You can visit the Directorate of Education in your area of residence.