Parents outraged by Baghdad school’s waiver form over building collapse risk

BAGHDAD — Parents of students at “That Al-Ayun” High School in the Shuhada Al-Saydia neighborhood were shocked on Tuesday when the school administration asked them to sign a waiver absolving the school of responsibility if the building were to collapse. The ageing school, which hosts both a primary and secondary school in double shifts, had already been issued an evacuation order by the Karkh-2 Directorate in Baghdad.

“The school was built in the 1980s, around the same time this neighborhood was established,” one concerned parent told 964media. The building is severely deteriorated, with warnings of its potential collapse dating back nearly nine years, but no government action has been taken to renovate or rebuild the structure. It currently houses two schools—Al-Shumoos Primary School in the morning and That Al-Ayun Secondary School in the evening.

“Today, we were shocked to receive papers from the administration, brought home by our daughters, asking us to sign a commitment stating that if the building collapses on the students, the administration bears no responsibility, and we cannot seek compensation. If we refuse to sign, we are forced to transfer our daughters to schools far away,” the parent added.

Schools across Iraq face severe challenges, ranging from deteriorating infrastructure to overcrowded classrooms. Many school buildings, constructed decades ago, are poorly maintained and in dire need of renovation. Basic facilities such as clean water, functional bathrooms, and reliable electricity are often lacking. Overcrowding is widespread, with multiple schools sharing the same building in double or even triple shifts, significantly limiting instructional time and reducing the quality of education.

A large-scale agreement with China aims to build 1,000 new schools across the country to ease pressure on the current education system. As of the start of this academic year, 600 of these schools have been completed, providing some relief to overcrowded classrooms and improving conditions for both students and teachers. Despite these developments, officials from the Ministry of Education emphasize that Iraq still requires an additional 8,000 schools to fully meet demand.