Conflict in Iraq has battered the education system, affecting hundreds of thousands of children across the country.

Ongoing violence has destroyed school buildings and around a quarter of all Iraq’s primary schools need major rehabilitation. Since March 2003, more than 700 primary schools have been bombed, 200 have been burnt and over 3,000 looted.

School Toilets

Damage to school buildings does not just mean classrooms and corridors, many schools are not able to open or have seen a huge drop-out rate because of poor sanitation facilities.

School toilets need to be clean, private and fully functional. Unclean or deteriorated facilities also affect children’s morale and their enthusiasm to attend school. UNICEF studies have shown that girls are less likely to continue going to school if there are no proper sanitation facilities.

Children who attend school have no choice but to use the poor facilities. Most school toilets do not have running water or drainage facilities. This leaves children more vulnerable to health disorders and infections.

Nothing to teach with

As well as damage to school buildings, there is also a huge lack of resources and many schools do not have enough desks, chairs, books or blackboards.

Without furniture in the classroom or basic teaching aids, children find it hard to learn and follow what their teacher is saying.

According to UNICEF, primary school attendance rates have decreased to 60% because of the lack of essential teaching aids and poor sanitation facilities.

IR Education projects

In Iraq, Islamic Relief (IR) is carrying out education projects to help children go to school despite the chronic insecurity that surrounds them.

In Baghdad primary schools IR has replaced the water and drainage facilities, refurbished toilets and repaired toilet doors, installed ventilators, and retiled walls and ceilings.

Raed goes to one of the schools in Baghdad that IR worked with. There was no running water at his school and the toilets were dirty and abandoned.

“I am so happy to see the new developments taking place at my school and all the work in the toilets, washing basins and drinking taps,” says Raed, “I no longer suffer when I use the school toilets.”

The sanitation project also included raising children’s awareness of good health and hygiene practices.

IR has also distributed blackboards and dustless chalk to primary schools in 4 governorates.

IR’s Orphans Sponsorship programme has been running in Iraq since 2004. Sponsored children receive the health, psychological and educational support they need, helping them better their futures.

Please visit alyateem.com today to sponsor an Iraqi orphan.