'No funds'

Hajiawa neighborhood’s 700 students struggle with lack of school facilities

2024-08-21 | 23:06

HAJIAWA – The Hajiawa Kon neighborhood in the Raparin administration is facing significant challenges due to the absence of basic educational facilities. Despite the area’s transition from a village to a recognized part of the city, the neighborhood still lacks both a kindergarten and a school, leaving nearly 700 students without nearby educational options.

Residents have voiced growing frustration over the situation, which forces students to travel to other areas for schooling. Mawlud Mohammed, a local resident, expressed concerns about the safety risks students face. “Our children have to cross a public road to reach their schools, which are far from our homes,” Mohammed said. “There have been traffic incidents involving students, which is a real danger. We are calling for the construction of a school in our area.”

Swara Fatah, head of the Hajiawa municipality, stated that while the local government has provided services to the neighborhood to the best of its ability, “So far, only 20% of the neighborhood has not received services.” Regarding the construction of a school, Fatah said, “We have no objection to allocating land for a school, but implementing such a project is the responsibility of the education department.”

The Raparin Directorate of Education, however, indicated that financial constraints are hindering progress. “There are many areas within the Raparin administration that need schools. We include the request for schools in our annual plan, but currently, we have no budget or funds available to implement this project,” said Yousif Jalal from the directorate’s media office.

The situation in Hajiawa mirrors similar issues in other parts of the Kurdistan Region. In Koya district, Erbil, residents of the Nawdaran neighborhood have repeatedly raised concerns over the lack of schools and other essential services. Despite numerous appeals over the past decade, financial limitations have delayed any meaningful development.

The Kurdistan Region has been grappling with a severe financial crisis, exacerbated by budget disputes with Baghdad, conflict with the Islamic State, and internal issues such as corruption and mismanagement. The situation deteriorated further after Iraq won a legal case in 2023 against the Kurdistan Regional Government over oil exports, leading to halted exports through Turkey and deepening the region’s financial struggles.