Islamic State issues new curriculum in Iraq
September 16, 2014 02:57
The extremist-held Iraqi city of Mosul is set to usher in a new school year. But unlike years past, there will be no art or music.
Classes about history, literature and Christianity have been "permanently annulled."
The Islamic State group has declared patriotic songs blasphemous and ordered that certain pictures be torn out of textbooks.
But instead of compliance, Iraq's second largest city has at least so far responded to the Sunni militants' demands with silence. Although the extremists stipulated that the school year would begin September 9, pupils have uniformly not shown up for class, according to residents who spoke anonymously because of safety concerns.
They said families were keeping their children home out of mixed feelings of fear, resistance and uncertainty.
"What's important to us now is that the children continue receiving knowledge correctly, even if they lose a whole academic year and an official certification," a Mosul resident who identified himself as Abu Hassan told The Associated Press, giving only his nickname for fear of reprisals.
He and his wife have opted for home schooling, picking up the required readings at the local market.
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