A group of students heading toward a school
Parents and administrators decry challenges
Kids in agricultural communities travel long and unsafe roads to get to school east of Baghdad
BAGHDAD, January 31 — Parents in agricultural communities east of Baghdad have raised concerns about the long distances their children are forced to travel to and from school and the dangers they face along the way.
Most schools in Al-Nahrawan are situated near main roads, but far from students’ homes, worrying both parents and school administrators who say they lack transportation options as well as traffic police and checkpoints.
Parent Ghazi Faisal told 964media his children travel a long and dangerous road to get to school.
“My children have to walk several kilometers every day to get to school and back home, which is worrying for us since anything could happen,” he said.
A source from one of the schools in the area shared, “The school does not have the capacity to provide transportation lines for students. Moreover, most parents cannot afford to arrange private transportation for their children to and from school.”
“These areas are agricultural, so the schools are spaced far apart, and the population density here is low. Sometimes we rely on organizing students in groups and advising them on how to get home safely,” the source added.
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