Residents of Ghammas frustrated by decade-long delay in rebuilding Yathrib Primary School

DIWANIYAH — More than a decade after its demolition, the ruins of Yathrib Primary School continue to spark frustration and outrage among residents of Ghammas, a town in Al-Shamiya District, Al-Diwaniyah Governorate. Originally destroyed for reconstruction in 2012, the project has stalled, leaving students to endure extreme weather in temporary caravans provided by UNICEF four years ago to replace tents.

Local activist Muhammad Jamal emphasized the importance of the school, saying, “Yathrib School used to accommodate over 500 students annually. Today, as you can see, the school is reduced to caravans that lack basic amenities like heating, cooling, or proper windows.”

The stalled rebuilding has forced many students to travel long distances for education, with the nearest primary school 4 kilometers away and the nearest middle school 5 kilometers away, leading to a significant dropout rate.

According to UNICEF, approximately 3.2 million Iraqi children are out of school.

Despite government promises, there has been no progress in rebuilding the school. Zafer Al-Nabhani, a parent, voiced his frustration: “After the demolition, they brought in construction slabs and set up tents, but since then, there has been no real action despite the change in officials.”

The education director previously promised to include the school in the ministry’s planning and budget, but no developments have been made. Al-Nabhani added, “Our children suffer in the winter cold and summer heat. The school serves five areas, yet despite pre-election promises by officials, none have been fulfilled.”

On July 25, 2024, Muhammad Khalaf Al-Khalidi, assistant director of buildings at the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, announced the completion of 41 model schools in Diwaniyah as part of the Chinese agreement, out of a planned 61 schools. Speaking to Al-Iraqiya, the state channel, Al-Khalidi said, “These schools vary in size; 29 schools can accommodate 12 classes each, 26 schools are designed for 15 classes, and 6 schools are equipped for 24 classes.” He added that while 41 schools have been completed, the remaining schools are expected to be finished within two months, with progress currently at 80%.