The Impact of Financial Crisis on the Process of Education in the Kurdistan Region

Abstract

The financial crises around the globe in the 21st century have affected all aspects of life, including the educational system, which has been considered the most vital aspect of any society around the globe. The Kurdistan Region, which has been recognized as one of the regions rich in oil resources in the Middle East, has been going through a critical financial crisis because of its dependence on such resources, which has affected the educational system directly or indirectly. This research was conducted to analyze the effect of the financial crisis on the process of education in the Kurdistan Region. The financial crisis, which occurred in the early 2000s, especially with the drop in oil prices in the global markets and the crisis of reduced spending in the public budget, has also significantly affected educational institutions. In the current research, some crucial factors are examined, which are: less budget for the education sector, the issue concerning the backlog of teacher and education staff salaries, damaged education infrastructure, and minimized learning activities. The influence on students, concerning the provision of basic needs, with the aim of continuing their education, is also investigated. The findings indicate that due to the financial crisis, the quality of education services offered in the Kurdistan region has dropped. Finally, this study recommends that it may include planning at a longer-term level, improving financial management in the educational sector, as well as encouraging interactions with international institutions to facilitate technical and financial assistance.