Overcrowding Crisis in Iraqi Schools
As the new school year kicks off in Iraq, approximately 12 million students have returned to classrooms, highlighting a persistent issue of overcrowding that has plagued the education system for three decades. The Federal Ministry of Education reported that around 1.2 million new students registered for the first primary stage this year. Despite recent efforts to build and renovate schools, a significant deficit remains, with an estimated 8,000 schools needed to accommodate the growing student population.
Government Efforts to Address School Shortages
The Iraqi government has made strides in addressing the school shortage, having built 460 schools under a contract with China. Haider Majeed, a spokesperson for the government communications team, emphasized the importance of school infrastructure and noted that plans are in place to construct a total of 1,000 new schools across the country. However, the Ministry of Education acknowledges a pressing need for more facilities, with projections indicating that the deficit could rise to 12,000 schools within two years due to ongoing population growth.
Challenges in the Education Sector
Experts attribute the school shortage to decades of neglect and the rapid population increase, which has nearly doubled since 2003. Factors such as economic sanctions, security issues following the U.S. invasion, and the rise of ISIS have further exacerbated the situation. Karam Mohammed, an education sector expert, highlighted that classrooms are overcrowded, often exceeding 45 students per class. He advocates for a comprehensive approach to education that considers the population's needs, suggesting that the actual requirement could exceed 15,000 schools to ensure manageable class sizes.
Despite the challenges, there is a renewed focus on improving the education system, with the government committing to build thousands of new schools in the coming years.
