Iraq's Collapsing Education

"A class can have nearly 100 students and the result is insufficient attention to students," said Hanan Youssef, a teacher at Mansour Primary School in Baghdad.

"Especially for those sitting in the back, it is nearly impossible even to hear what the teacher has to say," he added.

"Many students prefer stay at home."

The Ministry of Education says all institutions are lacking essentials such as books and lab materials.

Many schools suffer from overcrowding and are forced to operate multiple shifts.
Most schools do not finish the curricula and displaced children are less likely to stay or complete the school year.

According to the Ministry of Education, just 28 percent of 17-year-olds sat their graduation exams in 2006.

UNICEF estimates up to 600,000 Iraqi children have been displaced since early 2006.

"School enrolment and attendance rates are dropping," says Claire Hajaj, Chief of External Relations for UNICEF-Iraq.

"Initial data also shows that primary school net enrolment rates may have fallen from 86 percent in 2004 to as low as 46 percent in 2006."

The Ministry of Education, together with the Ministry of Higher Education, get the smallest share of investments and depend mostly on UNICEF to support schools projects.

Iraqis enjoyed a high standard educational level under the ousted regime of Saddam Hussein.

Until the 1980’s, Iraq was regarded as the center of academia in the Arab world.

Terrorized

The educational system suffers a serious shortage of teachers and professors.

"Thousands of teachers have fled the country because of threats from sectarian death squads," said Leila Abdallah of the Higher Education Ministry's studies planning department.

"Some were evicted from their areas and moved to others inside Iraq for sectarian reasons," she added.

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