The publication and official archival of these pedagogical materials is the result of a long-term collaborative effort. Developed by the Kurdish Education Association in partnership with the Kurdish Institute of Switzerland, the project was coordinated by the Zurich University of Teacher Education (PHZH) and received key support from the Swiss Federal Office of Culture (FOC).
The primary author of the curriculum is Hesen Huseyîn Denîz, a prominent educator who also serves as the director of both the Kurdish Institute of Switzerland and the Kurdish Education Association.
Why Helveticat integration matters
In the Swiss library system, the “Helveticat” catalog is reserved for books, journals, newspapers, and digital media that carry national or cultural significance to Switzerland.
By archiving these Kurdish textbooks in Helveticat, the Swiss government formally recognizes Kurdish mother-tongue education as a valuable component of the country’s diverse cultural fabric. This ensures that the curriculum will be permanently preserved for future generations and remains accessible to researchers and educators worldwide.
Curriculum overview
The curriculum is specifically tailored to the psychological and linguistic needs of diaspora children, offering a systematic, grade-by-grade approach to mother-tongue and cultural education.
Target Audience: Children aged 5 to 16 (covering 11 academic years).
Structure: Two textbooks are assigned for each school year, complemented by a comprehensive “Kurdish Teaching Guide” designed specifically for educators.
Global Collaboration: The textbooks were developed with input from pedagogical experts based in Switzerland, Germany, the United States, and Israel, alongside leading cultural organizations such as YMK, Yekmal, and the Kurdish PEN.
International Use: Beyond Switzerland, this curriculum has already been adopted for native-language courses in Germany and Sweden.
How to Order: For educators, parents, and community organizations wishing to obtain physical or digital copies of these textbooks, they are available worldwide through the official portal: www.pirtuk.ch.
