Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers, Hamid Al-Ghazi, confirmed that the beginning of next year will witness the delivery of the last batch of model schools to the Ministry of Education, while he indicated that it was agreed to convert 50 of them into smart schools in all governorates .
Al-Ghazi said during the inauguration of 790 model schools by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani via video conference: “The school construction project has been implemented in all of Iraq, and only 7 governorates were chosen for opening today, and schools will be opened in the remaining governorates next month, as four models (B12-B18-B24-A24) were chosen.”
He added, “The 12-class model B12 exceeded 18 classes, B18 exceeded 18, and B24 reached 26 classes in addition to four halls for the principal, assistants, and male and female teachers .”
He added, “The implemented model was prepared within a competition in 2021 to design model schools for the first time in Iraq. It contains four laboratories for computer, chemistry, sound and biology, and a hall for parents that accommodates 140 chairs, as well as rooms for services, electricity, a guard, a store and a games hall. The parents’ hall can be used for exams,” noting that “each building contains three or two floors .”
He explained that “the criteria adopted in selecting schools were coordinated by the Ministry of Planning and Education and the General Secretariat and were distributed based on the number of triple-shift schools and the number of mud schools; to finalize their file in these governorates and population density, and the thousand schools were distributed according to this criteria, as well as the implementation of the project by Chinese companies and local contractors who contributed to its construction .”
Al-Ghazi explained that the achievement rates for schools in all governorates were 100%, as follows :
1 – Baghdad Al-Rusafa: Total number of schools: 51, 38 completed schools
2 – Baghdad Al-Karkh: Total number of schools 93 Completed 66
3 – Karbala: Total number of completed schools: 44
4 – Dhi Qar: Total number of schools: 106, completed: 84 schools
5 – Najaf: Total number of schools: 40 schools, completed: 35 schools
6 – Basra: Total number of schools: 86 schools, completed: 73 schools
7 – Maysan: Total number of schools: 52 schools, completed: 38 schools
8 – Wasit: Total number of schools: 48 schools, completed: 34 schools
9 – Al-Muthanna: Total number of schools: 53 schools, completed: 53 schools.
10 – Diwaniyah: Total number of schools: 61 schools, completed: 51 schools
11 – Babylon: Total number of schools: 45 schools, completed: 40 schools
12 – Anbar: Total number of schools: 51 schools, completed: 31 schools
13 – Diyala: Total number of schools: 56, completed: 41 schools
14 – Salah Al-Din: Total number of schools: 68 schools, completed: 42 schools
15 – Salah Al-Din Al-Dawz: Total number of schools: 10 schools, completed: 3 schools
16 – Kirkuk: Total number of schools: 44 Completed schools: 44 schools
17 – Nineveh: Total number of schools: 92 schools, 73 completed schools .
Al-Ghazi pointed out that, “During the meeting of the Supreme Committee for Schools headed by the Prime Minister, it was agreed to convert 50 model schools into smart schools, and we have now begun preparing and completing the lists. These schools will be implemented in all governorates, and each governorate will have two schools, and Baghdad will have the largest number, as it contains 6 education directorates,” indicating that, “These schools will enter service next year and will be for the gifted and distinguished .”
He continued, “During this period, there was great support from the Prime Minister, the Directorates of Education, and the Ministry of Finance, who made great efforts to resolve the funding problem, which takes more than 11 months. There are no obstacles, financial matters are proceeding smoothly, and technical problems have been resolved .”
Al-Ghazi stated, “Next December, before the end of the year, approximately 200 schools will be completed. There will be an achievement in January, and the project will be completely closed, as 30 schools will be completed. Thus, the 1,000 schools will be 100% ready and handed over to the Ministry of Education.”
