KAWERGOSK, Iraq (AP) – The young Syrian refugees at the Kawergosk refugee camp in northern Iraq have already lost so much – and now they’re losing their teachers.
One after another, school teachers at have packed up and left for Europe – searching for opportunity, a safer environment, a better life.
With the school year just kicking off in Iraq, schools like this one are scrambling to accommodate the refugee students left behind. Nine of Kawergosk’s teachers fled to Europe this summer and the remaining teachers are doubling up on students.
Mizgeen Hussein, 28, is among those teachers left behind. A refugee from Derik, Syria, Hussein admits that despite her commitment to the students, she would leave if she had the money.
“The reason for me to leave is to have a future”, said Hussein, who teaches a class of 37 children at the camp’s school. “For sure this has an effect on us,” she added. “For now, we’ll solve it with the people who are here until they will bring other teachers.”