Iraq to update curriculum for 2026-2027 school year, ministry says

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Ministry of Education will not add new material to the school curriculum for the 2026-2027 academic year but will introduce targeted updates at several grade levels, ministry spokesman Karim al-Sayyid said. The changes will apply mainly to first-grade classes in primary school and to science and literature tracks in fourth-year secondary school. A new first-grade reading curriculum was prepared two years ago and piloted before now; it will be updated for the coming year rather than introduced as a fresh syllabus, the ministry said. In fourth-year secondary mathematics, the modern mathematics series will be completed and additional updates will be made for the fourth stage, according to the ministry. The two revisions are the only curriculum changes planned for the year, the statement added. Last year, classes on Baath Party crimes and moral education were added. Education Minister Abdulkarim Obeid al-Juburi said on August 9 that teaching staff will begin work on September 1, 2026, and students will start classes on September 20, 2026. The ministry has directed all provincial education directorates to complete preparations according to the set timetable.