Latest news with #LawNo.20of2020
Shafaq News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Speaker nullifies Iraq parliament session over procedural breach
Shafaq News – Baghdad Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani declared Tuesday's legislative session 'invalid,' asserting that it was held without his authorization and in breach of parliamentary rules. In an official letter addressed to his first and second deputies, members of parliament, and all relevant bodies, al-Mashhadani cited Article 34/2 of Parliament's internal regulations, which grants him exclusive authority to open and chair sittings, pointing out that no parliamentary session can be held in his absence unless he formally delegates authority or is officially unable to perform his duties. Iraq's Parliament held a heated meeting on July 5 that ended in chaos after a dispute erupted between the Speaker, his deputies, and several lawmakers, forcing the session to be adjourned until further notice. The dispute soon drew in MPs from the Shiite Coordination Framework and Sunni alliances, including lawmakers Alaa al-Haidari and Raad al-Dahlaki. A parliamentary source told Shafaq News the confrontation escalated over the inclusion of a vote on the Federal Service Council in the session's agenda. Al-Mashhadani objected to the item being added during his brief departure from the chamber, leading to a verbal clash with al-Mandalawi. The session opened with 167 lawmakers in attendance and was expected to vote on several key laws, including amendments to the Education Law and the Law on equivalency of foreign degrees (Law No. 20 of 2020). But the quorum was broken after Sunni MPs walked out in protest. MP Zuhair al-Fatlawi from the Ishraqat Kanoon Movement told Shafaq News that the disruption stemmed from political disagreements rather than technical obstacles. He added that some Sunni blocs insisted on creating a special oversight body for the Federal Service Council, rejecting the proposed law in its current form. In a statement, MP Raad al-Dahlaki, head of the Azm Alliance in Diyala, condemned the events as 'a targeted insult not only to al-Mashhadani personally, but to the Sunni community as a whole,' accusing 'certain factions' of 'attempting to dominate Iraq's last key state institutions—namely the Federal Service Council and the State Council—while denying Sunnis their rightful share.' 'What's worse is that this scheme is being aided by blocs that claim to represent the Sunni constituency,' al-Dahlaki stated. MP Mohammed al-Ziyadi told Shafaq News that the clash collapse was a 'misunderstanding' between the Speaker and his deputy, explaining that al-Mashhadani believed his first deputy had taken advantage of his brief absence to insert controversial items onto the agenda and hold a vote without broader political consensus. Parliament is not expected to reconvene before the Arbaeen, on August 15, after which the disputed laws may be resubmitted for a vote, he revealed.
Shafaq News
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq's higher education crisis: +45,000 degrees unrecognized
Shafaq News/ Iraq's higher education sector is grappling with a surge of unrecognized postgraduate degrees from private universities abroad, leaving thousands of students in limbo. Academics said that degrees from institutions in Lebanon, Turkiye, and Iran are particularly affected, as they fail to meet the Iraqi government's official recognition criteria. Strict Requirements Regulations governing foreign degrees leave little room for flexibility. According to Higher Education Ministry spokesperson Haider Al-Aboudi, students funding their own studies must choose universities listed in the ministry's official guide. "Only then can their degrees be authenticated upon returning to Iraq," he told Shafaq News. Recognition becomes even more selective for those not employed by the government. While public sector workers earning degrees from approved institutions have their qualifications validated under a cabinet decision, students attending unlisted universities face outright rejection. "A degree from an unrecognized institution holds no weight," Al-Aboudi clarified. Proposed Amendments to Degree Equivalency Law A shift in policy could soon be on the horizon. Amendments to Law No. 20 of 2020 on Equivalency of Arab and Foreign Academic Certificates and Degrees have advanced through Iraq's parliament. Once quorum is met, lawmakers will proceed with the final vote. The changes aim to tighten academic standards while offering some flexibility in residency requirements. Nahla Qadir, a member of the Parliamentary Higher Education Committee, outlined key provisions. "For PhD candidates, the new rules require a six-month non-continuous stay, while master's students must complete nine months, with an optional two-month break," she told Shafaq News. A mandatory two-year gap between earning a master's and enrolling in a PhD program is also among the proposed revisions. Equally crucial is the requirement that only academically reputable universities qualify for student enrollment. Degrees Gathering Dust Even with legislative efforts underway, unrecognized degrees continue to pile up. A 2022 report from the Administrative Research and Studies Department at the Civil Service Council exposed the staggering scale of the issue: 101,519 graduates were excluded from employment eligibility, with only 33,861 permitted to apply for advanced degrees. Meanwhile, 45,690 degrees failed to receive official recognition. The consequences have been deeply personal for many. Hassan Abbas Ali highlighted the plight of countless PhD holders. "Their degrees hang on their walls, useless, because the ministry refuses to acknowledge them," said the 50-year-old, whose doctorate from a Lebanese university remains unverified. Similar concerns were raised by Abdul Baqi Sattar, a 42-year-old doctorate holder from an Iranian university. "Iranian institutions have issued 100,000 degrees, yet officials claim 85,000 of them were simply sold," he alleged in an interview with Shafaq News. While no concrete evidence has surfaced to prove mass degree sales, he argued that direct engagement between Iraqi authorities and foreign universities is necessary to validate academic standards. Constant Worries For many postgraduate students, shifting policies have created a constant state of anxiety. Frequent changes to the Ministry of Higher Education's list of recognized universities reportedly mean that institutions granted accreditation one year may lose it the next. A complex certification process adds to the uncertainty. "Even if a university loses recognition later, its degrees should remain valid under ministry rules," said Ali Salman, a 34-year-old postgraduate student. "But in practice, the verification process is convoluted, and not all degrees make it through." Beyond bureaucratic hurdles, corruption in some foreign institutions has further eroded trust in overseas education. The rise of 'diploma mills,' according to experts, has transformed certain universities into mere certificate distributors rather than centers of learning. Academics, too, have voiced concerns. "Foreign study was once the hallmark of academic ambition, but today, many private institutions hand out degrees with little oversight," observed university professor Munim Hassan Al-Asam. "I know someone who earned a PhD without ever completing a master's. This issue is spreading through private universities abroad," he warned. Some institutions, he noted to Shafaq News, bypass even the most basic academic requirements. "No proof of prior education is needed at some places—it's purely transactional.' Yet not all foreign universities operate this way. Al-Asam emphasized that institutions maintaining rigorous academic standards still exist. "Real degrees come through extensive research and in-depth scholarly discussions, not shortcuts." The Way Forward Addressing the crisis requires more than policy changes. Experts argue that without stringent oversight, unrecognized degrees will continue to flood the Iraqi job market. Strengthening ties between Iraq and reputable foreign institutions could help, Al-Asam suggested. "Academic partnerships, rigorous verification procedures, and a crackdown on fraudulent degree mills are the only way to restore credibility to higher education."
Shafaq News
15-02-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq to amend rules for foreign university degrees recognition
Shafaq News/ Iraq's Parliament is scheduled to vote on Sunday on amendments to Law No. 20 of 2020 on the equivalency of Arab and foreign academic degrees. The original law marked a significant shift in Iraq's higher education landscape, enabling thousands of Iraqi students to obtain bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees with streamlined certification procedures. The revised law mandates that government institutions recognize an employee's foreign degree only if they obtained prior approval from their respective workplace before pursuing studies. Additionally, the amendments propose reducing the residency requirement for a master's and PhD to one academic year, except for research-based programs, which will require six months of continuous or intermittent residency. The member of the parliamentary education committee, MP Atheer Yassin, told Shafaq News that the previous law was passed under difficult global circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic, adding, "We are now reviewing and amending key higher education laws to align with the country's current needs.' The new amendments aim to uphold the credibility of higher degrees issued by foreign universities, Yassin said, explaininf, 'Some universities have turned into mere diploma mills, granting degrees without requiring student attendance in exchange for substantial fees.' However, some Iraqi students and employees have voiced to Shafaq News that frustration over the new amendments, arguing that 'the government is imposing excessive restrictions on foreign degree recognition.' They added that 'the new amendment to the law imposes a lengthy residency period for students wishing to study abroad, which will consequently increase financial costs and expenses for students in their host countries.' Earlier this year, Iraq's cultural attaché in Iran, Yasser Abdul-Zahra, reported that more than 80,000 Iraqi students are currently enrolled in Iranian universities, with 95% funding their education privately.
