Iraq holds 13th conference on Syriac language and Christian education

BAGHDEDE, Iraq — Under the patronage of Iraqi Minister of Education Abdul Karim Abtan al-Jubouri and supervision of Director General of Syriac Studies Salah Abboush Khidir and in cooperation with Al-Hamdaniya University and the University of Mosul, Iraq held the 13th Educational Conference on Syriac Language and Christian Religious Education Curricula on 7 October 2026, at Al-Hamdaniya University. Held under the slogan, Our Curricula: Sustainability of Heritage and a Message for the Future, the conference brought together officials, educators, directors and professors specializing in Syriac language and curricula from Baghdede (Qaraqosh), Tel Keppe (Tel Keif), and Bashiqa. Staff from the General Directorate of Syriac Studies, along with clergy, academics, researchers and others interested in the Syriac language, also attended the conference. The event opened with welcoming remarks, followed by the Iraqi national anthem. Speeches were delivered by Khidir and the president of Al-Hamdaniya University. A video presentation on the Syriac language and Christian religious education was then screened before the conference moved into its scientific sessions. The conference aimed to explore ways to develop and modernize Syriac language and Christian religious education curricula in line with contemporary educational trends and teaching needs. Organizers said the conference also sought to strengthen students’ linguistic abilities and human and spiritual values, promote the use of modern teaching methods, and interactive educational tools, identify challenges facing the educational process, and propose appropriate solutions. The conference addressed several themes, including the development and modernization of curricula according to quality standards; methods for teaching the Syriac language and script; the development of Christian religious education curricula; and the strengthening of identity and coexistence values. Other topics included administrative, technical, and field challenges affecting the educational process, as well as Semitic languages and comparative linguistics. The conference featured four scientific sessions addressing research and studies presented by academics, researchers, and specialists in language, education, and teaching. Organizers described the conference as an important scientific and educational milestone in the work of the General Directorate of Syriac Studies, providing a forum for dialogue among specialists, academics, and educators. The conference also provided an opportunity to identify challenges encountered in the field and present proposals aimed at improving the educational process and strengthening the teaching of Syriac and Christian religious education in educational institutions. The conference concluded with recommendations and proposals focused on developing curricula and teaching methods and addressing challenges facing the educational process in line with its stated objectives and slogan.