Iraq ramps up efforts to phase out temporary container schools

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Ministry of Education announced Wednesday that nearly 1,000 temporary container schools are still in use nationwide, even as construction projects accelerate plans to replace them with permanent facilities.

Ministry spokesperson Karim Al-Sayed told the state news agency that “caravan schools are one of the ministry’s top priorities,” adding that efforts are underway to gradually replace them.

“There are around 1,000 container schools, but their numbers will decrease as new school construction projects are completed in nearby areas,” he said.

Al-Sayed explained that the ministry is building new projects on land carefully selected near existing container school sites. This approach is part of a broader strategy to transition to modern, permanent school buildings that better meet the needs of growing communities.

“Every new project being implemented will play a major role in eliminating container schools, as the sites were carefully chosen to meet the needs of the growing population in different areas,” he added.

In a boost to the country’s education reform, officials noted that 600 new schools have already been completed as part of a nationwide initiative. The construction drive stems from agreements signed in 2021 between Iraq and several Chinese companies under the 2019 “oil-for-construction” deal, in which Iraq trades oil for infrastructure projects, including new school buildings.

Despite these advances, the Ministry of Education acknowledges that approximately 8,000 additional schools are needed to fully address the nation’s educational demands.

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