Najla Imad’s success story to be included in Iraqi school curriculum

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Minister of Education, Ibrahim Names Al-Jubouri, directed the General Directorate of Curricula on Tuesday to include the success story of Paralympic champion Najla Imad in the national school curriculum, aiming to inspire students with her achievements and perseverance.

Najla Imad made history by securing Iraq’s first-ever gold medal at the Paralympic Games, winning in the table tennis event at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. She is the first Iraqi woman to achieve this distinction.

The move to include Imad’s story in the curriculum is intended to highlight her accomplishment as a symbol of resilience.

Earlier in the day, Minister of Youth and Sports Ahmed Al-Mubarqa welcomed Najla Imad and the Iraqi Paralympic Committee delegation at Baghdad International Airport following their return from the Paris Paralympics, where they earned a total of five medals — one gold, one silver, and three bronze — marking a significant success for Iraqi sports.

Najla Imad, a native of Diyala province, faced a formidable opponent in Ukraine’s Maryna Lytovchenko in the finals, Despite limited preparation time due to school exams, the 19-year-old champion triumphed with a 3-1 victory in the women’s class six event.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani also received Najla Imad on Tuesday, describing her accomplishment as “a humanitarian message that transcended the ordeal of terrorism.” He directed that she be included in a session of the Supreme Council for Women and assured that all necessary support and resources would be provided to her.

Imad, who graduated from Al-Mujtahidat High School for Girls in July, lost both her legs and her right arm at the age of three after an explosive device detonated in her father’s military vehicle.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Al-Sudani, joined by Imad’s father and coach, Jamal Jalal, expressed his gratitude to them for their role in her achievement, which has been celebrated across Iraq as a source of national pride.