Rony Patrous Eramia obtained his Masters degree with his own expenses in Semitic languages at a university of Berlin. When he returned back home, he found out that his degree does not qualify him to be a lecturer in any university in the Kurdistan region
KeyNotes
- Big sacrifices to complete his studies
- Finding assistance from German organisations to cover basic living expenses
- Disappointing expectations when returning home with his Master's degree
Naseem Sadiq, SBS Assyrian contributor from Dohuk, Iraq, interviewed Mr Rony Eramia, who returned to Dohuk after finishing his Masters degree in Semitic Languages from the University of Berlin.
Mr Eramia says the Kurdish government has three scholarships offered to students, but with limited funds. Mr Eramia was not successful in attaining a government scholarship, so had to fund his own travel to Germany and his tuition fees and living expenses for three years.
At the beginning, he found it very difficult. Although Mr Eramia knew English, he had to learn German, as the degree was delivered in German.
After one year, Mr Eramia attained his language certification and began his Masters degree studies at the University of Berlin under the supervision of Professor Shabo Talay, who helped him tremendously.
Mr Eramia recalls the difficulties he faced as he began his studies. He was away from home and family, with no financial support apart from some small assistance from a German organisation that helped him to complete his studies.
In 2019, he gained his Master degree in Semitic languages with Distinction. He successfully defended his thesis about the literature of a Syriac scholar, Father Hedeni from the region of Tkhoma, northern Iraq.
Now, he is preparing a PhD from the same university and under the supervision of Professor Shabo Talay.
Talking about his first impressions of living in Berlin, Mr Eramia said, “Coming from the Middle East, we have heard so much about Germany and how advanced the country is. The lifestyle, living accommodation and all that.
I was first welcomed by a friend of mine who lived in Germany for many years. I stayed at his place for 3 days. Then he took me to an area where I could find permanent accommodation.
“I was really shocked when I saw my room. It was tiny, dark and not suitable for a human being to live in.” Mr Eramia said.
Living expenses were paid for by a German organisation, Mr Eramia says he is very grateful to them. However, he had to manage other expenses to complete his studies.
After returning home, Mr Eramia was very excited and positive to come back with a degree in Semitic Languages. According to Mr Eramia, he is the only Assyrian in Iraq with a Master’s degree in the Semitic Languages.
Mr Eramia was shocked to learn that he had to accredit his bachelor’s degree he obtained from Iraq, before his Masters could be recognised, because he was not granted a scholarship from the government and his studies were private.
He was told to seek assistance from government officials.
Mr Eramia says that he started knocking on the doors of five Assyrian representatives in the Kurdish parliament, asking for their help. Unfortunately, his requests were not answered.
Mr Eramiaa had one last hope: the Assyrian representative in the Kurdish parliament, Mr. Farid Yacoub, who spoke to the Minister of Education about Mr Eramia's situation.
The Minister said that there are many cases like Mr. Eramia's, and that he would need to obtain a special exemption. Mr Eramia says "Until now, I still haven't heard an answer.”
Although the university of Salah al-Din in Erbil has a Faculty of Syriac Studies, and he is the most qualified academic to teach in that faculty, Mr Eramia has yet to be given the opportunity to do so.
Mr Eramia says that every person who wants to serve his nation, a nation who elected representatives to be their voice in Parliament.
Parliamentarians should work harder to respond to constituents like himself, “people who have sacrificed so much from their life to be able to preserve and develop the language, history and culture of our nation.” Mr Eramia concludes.
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