One of the newly opened schools in Iraq, part of efforts to expand and rehabilitate educational facilities across the country.
Iraq opens new school year with 1,700 new schools, 251,000 dropouts returning
BAGHDAD — More than 1,700 schools have opened and 251,000 students who had dropped out have returned to classrooms as Iraq begins the 2025–2026 school year, a senior education adviser said Monday.
Adnan al-Sarraj, adviser to the prime minister for education affairs, told the state news agency that “about 450 new schools entered service, bringing the total number of schools that entered service to 1,730, in addition to the rehabilitation of 4,000 schools.” He added that “450,000 contract employees have been appointed in the Ministry of Education, and 251,000 dropouts have returned to study during the new academic year.”
He said the school year also includes an increase in health units inside schools “to carry out examinations and follow up on the health and psychological well-being of students.” Al-Sarraj noted that textbooks were distributed across education directorates and delivered to schools “from the first day of attendance, with 100% new books for primary students, and 30% new books plus 70% recycled books for secondary students.” He stressed that “there are no major additions to the curricula.”
The new school year began on Sunday, Sept. 21, with more than 12 million pupils and students across Iraq attending classes. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani visited the Al-Sadrain Secondary School for Outstanding Students in Sadr City, where he rang the bell to mark the start of the academic year alongside Education Minister Ibrahim al-Jubouri.
In December 2021, Iraq signed agreements with two Chinese companies to build 1,000 schools nationwide as part of an oil-for-infrastructure deal.