Despite massive degradation and deterioration as a result of three major wars and over a decade of sanctions, under-funding and official neglect, the education system in Iraq has continued to operate through three complete academic years since May 2003 under the responsibility of the Ministry of Education in Baghdad (MOE), and the education authorities in the Kurdistan region. While the resumption of schooling and solid recovery in enrollments are notable achievements, the education system continues to face considerable challenges in terms of both access and quality due to lack of facilities, learning materials, access to the international community and depletion of highly trained staff. Financed by the ITF, two projects are showing decisive signs of success. Implemented by the MOE, the ITF projects affect all governorates of Iraq and aim to improve conditions of learning and support for construction and rehabilitation of the most critical facilities. The World Bank also focuses on institutional strengthening of the MOE, and capacity-building for system reconstruction and reform.  | School opening ceremony by H.E Minister of Education in Erbil
(ESCRP Project) (May 06) |
1- The US$40 million Emergency Textbook Provision Project 2- The US$60 million Emergency School Construction and Rehabilitation Project (ESCRP) improved conditions of learning by completing the rehabilitation of 134 schools needing urgent repair nationwide, benefiting 46,000 students. Also 11 contracts for constructing 32 new schools were awarded so far with works that started in October 2006. In addition, the WB approved in October 2006 additional financing for the construction of approximately 30 schools in villages without schools in the marshland areas of Southern Iraq: the US$ 6 million project will benefit 6,000 – 8,000 children and help stabilize the resettlement of about 30 communities in existing villages. It is also proposing a project to build capacity and support the development of a strategy for reform of the vocational schools sub-sector in the MOE.
 | Baghdad - A Primary School rehabilitated through the ESCRP (November 2005) |
 | Major repairs under way in Baghdad. (June 2005) |
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