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AKRE, Kurdistan Region - Bakhtiyar Ismat is a shepherd from Akre, in the northwest of the Kurdistan Region. He is pursuing a master's degree in Arabic language while tending to his flock.
He had dropped out of middle school at a young age. But 16 years later, in 2008, he picked up where he left off, resuming his studies through open learning programs. He started again in seventh grade and has been continuing ever since.
He graduated from Akre College's Arabic department and is now pursuing a master's degree in the same department.
'I'm currently in my second year, with only my thesis and a few English courses remaining,' he told Rudaw.
Bakhtiyar, 45, also cares for about thirty sheep. Throughout his life, he's taken on many different jobs, but his true passion has always been teaching.
He dreams of earning a postdoctoral degree but says he will never give up his work as a shepherd.
Ayub Nasri contributed to this article.
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