Schools in Sulaymaniyah’s Sharbazher in critical need of renovation, says education director

SHARBAZHER — Nearly 40 schools and kindergartens in Sharbazher, Sulaymaniyah, are in urgent need of renovation, with the majority having suffered from neglect for several years, according to the area’s Education Director, Latif Hussein. Speaking on Friday, Hussein highlighted the severe state of these educational centers, which comprise a significant portion of the 100 schools in the region.

“Since the financial crisis declared in 2014, no new schools have been built in the area. It has also been impossible to renovate those that need it, despite the urgent need for renovations in nearly 40 schools, which suffer from various issues,” Hussein told 964media. “We do not have a single school in Sharbazher that meets high-quality standards. Most of them require repairs and renovation, and some are in even worse condition. We have been trying, within our capacity, to address some of these shortcomings with the help of the Ministry of Education and charitable individuals.”

The Kurdistan Region has been grappling with a severe financial crisis, exacerbated by budget disputes with Baghdad, conflict with the Islamic State after 2014, and internal issues such as corruption and mismanagement. The situation worsened in 2023 after Iraq won a legal case against the Kurdistan Regional Government over oil exports, leading to halted exports through Turkey and deepening the region’s financial difficulties.

Hussein further explained, “There were schools with several problems, and we were only able to solve one issue per school. Those schools with many problems have been renovated multiple times because the necessary budget was not available.”

He pointed out that the financial crisis has also left eight schools incomplete, with construction companies abandoning their work due to unpaid funds. “Currently, neither the government nor the company is working to complete them, and the contractor is preventing charitable individuals from finishing the schools,” he said.

Hussein issued a stark warning about the condition of several schools in the area: “Four of our schools are at serious risk. If we do not act quickly, they may face the threat of collapse. In five other schools in the area, students continue to study in temporary cabins provided by local donors. This was necessary because their original buildings were unsafe.”

In Sharbazher, 1,400 teachers are responsible for educating approximately 6,000 students across 100 educational centers, many of which are in dire need of attention.

The situation in Sharbazher reflects similar challenges across other parts of the Kurdistan Region. In the Hajiawa Kon neighborhood of the Raparin administration, the absence of basic educational facilities poses significant problems. Despite transitioning from a village to a recognized part of the city, the neighborhood still lacks a kindergarten and a school, leaving nearly 700 students without access to nearby educational options.

Similarly, in the Nawdaran neighborhood of the Koya district, Erbil, residents have repeatedly voiced concerns over the lack of schools and other essential services. Despite numerous appeals to local education and health authorities over the last decade, their pleas remain unaddressed.