Iraq closes 158 private institutes in crackdown on unlicensed establishments

BAGHDAD — The Education Ministry has closed 158 private education institutions in Baghdad and other governorates, most of them unlicensed institutes, in what it calls the first stage of a wider tightening of oversight.

The closures were ordered by Education Minister Abdul Karim Abtan and carried out with the National Security Service, spokesperson Karim al-Sayyid told 964media. “The focus was primarily on institutes that lacked licenses and had problems, warnings and previous directives issued against them,” he said. “These institutes exploit students’ needs and are unlicensed and not affiliated with the Ministry of Education.”

Licensed institutions are dealt with in stages, Sayyid said, with warnings and time to correct violations before closure, while unlicensed ones are handled by security agencies. The ministry oversees licensed private education through annual licence renewals and periodic inspections, and intends to expand the review.