Unravelling education policy: Insights from policy documents and teachers’ stories in Iraqi Kurdistan

This study delves into Iraqi Kurdistan's (IK) education policies and their impacts on teachers' lives and practices. It investigates the driving forces behind these policies over the past 14 years and their alignment or clashes with teachers' beliefs. It explores how internal and global policy discourses and actors influence teacher subjectivities and identities in IK. Through document analysis and interviews, it uncovers the intricate relationships between curriculum and teaching policy imperatives. As Iraqi Kurdistan's education is facing challenges, this research emphasises the importance of valuing teachers' diverse beliefs and adopting a nuanced approach to policy development.