Education Ministry announces major advancements in state schools

BAGHDAD — The Iraqi Ministry of Education has reported significant improvements in state education, citing higher success rates and a reduced reliance on private tutoring. These gains are attributed to efforts to alleviate classroom overcrowding and the introduction of new school facilities across the country.

Ministry spokesperson Kareem Al-Sayyed highlighted the progress, noting that some public schools are now outperforming private institutions. “Success rates have risen markedly after reducing overcrowding, allowing students to fully engage in lessons without the rush caused by overlapping shifts,” Al-Sayyed told 964Media.

The previous state of public education had prompted the issuance of over 4,000 licenses for private schools. However, Al-Sayyed said the revitalization of public schools and the implementation of model public schools are reversing this trend, decreasing the need for private lessons.

The Ministry expects to open around 1,000 new schools by the end of the year, revitalizing stalled projects and initiating new ones under partnerships like the Chinese contract and regional development plans. “The Ministry and the government have prioritized school infrastructure, designating this year as the ‘Year of School Building,’ with approximately 600 new schools already operational,” Al-Sayyed said.

Construction of new schools had stalled after 2012 but resumed under the current administration. “By year’s end, we expect about 1,000 new schools to be operational,” Al-Sayyed added, citing record enrollment of 1.2 million first-grade students this year as evidence of the growing demand for educational infrastructure.

In December 2021, Iraq signed agreements with two Chinese companies to build 1,000 schools as part of a broader plan to construct 7,000 schools nationwide. Power China is responsible for 679 schools, while Sinotech is building 321. By early 2024, hundreds of these schools had been completed, with the entire project expected to conclude by year’s end.

To further enhance education quality, the Ministry is deploying mobile teams to inspect and regulate private tutoring centers. “We are witnessing progress with model public schools and more attractive learning environments,” Al-Sayyed said.