Experts highlight urgent need for improved school infrastructure and inclusion of children with disabilities.
KSC – Press Release
Slemani, Iraq – Kurdistan Save the Children (KSC) hosted a webinar on Sunday titled “Education in Crisis: Rebuilding Opportunities for Iraqi Children,” bringing together key education stakeholders to address the urgent challenges facing Iraq’s education sector.
Moderated by Dr. Zana Aziz Mahmoud, Lecturer at Sulaimani University, the panel featured Omer Wahab, Education Specialist at UNICEF Iraq; Ammar Rafia Salman, Assistant Director General at the Iraqi Ministry of Education; Taher Al Kaki, Associate Project Officer at UNESCO Iraq; and Jailan Sabah, Education Program Manager at KSC.
Education Challenges in Post-Conflict Iraq
Panelists highlighted the severe impact of conflict, particularly the ISIS crisis, which has devastated Iraq’s education system. Ammar Rafia Salman emphasized that the crisis had led to catastrophic consequences for children, youth and especially girls, as well as long-term disruptions in education. He pointed out that a lack of school infrastructure remains one of the biggest obstacles, leading to overcrowded schools with double and triple shifts, shortened lesson times and limited space for students.
He further stressed the importance of re-enrolling out-of-school children and advancing policies for lifelong learning, particularly for displaced persons and children with disabilities.
Ammar Rafia Salman also highlighted the importance of reforming Iraq’s education system to align with global frameworks.
“A critical step moving forward is the adoption of new examination methods that align with current educational needs, in accordance with the SDG goals and the Marrakesh Framework for Action,” he said. “The UIL report presented to the UN General Assembly, in particular the resolution on literacy for life, addresses these issues and calls for a comprehensive approach to improve education for all.”
The Struggles of Internally Displaced Children
Omer Wahab addressed the situation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Iraq, noting that over 1 million IDPs remain, with 650,000 residing in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). Despite 370 IDP schools operating under the Ministry of Education, he stressed that more support is needed to ensure quality education for displaced children.
“Currently, 45% of IDP schools are prefabricated structures built in 2014 at the start of the crisis,” Wahab said. While NGOs have provided annual support for renovations, he noted that these schools require long-term, sustainable solutions.
With 158,000 IDP children still in need of support, Wahab called for greater investment in stabilizing education for displaced communities.
Building Inclusive and Accessible Schools
Focusing on education accessibility, Jailan Sabah emphasized the need to integrate infrastructure for children with disabilities into school designs.
“We have come a long way from exclusion and segregation, and I’m glad to see progress toward integration,” she said. However, she noted that many schools were built without accessibility in mind, lacking elevators, ramps, and proper resource rooms for children with special needs. She stressed that a proper resource room must include ramps, wide doorways, non-slip flooring, proper lighting, and noise reduction to accommodate sensory needs.
While acknowledging the high costs of infrastructure improvements, Sabah remained optimistic, stating that education is one of the fastest-changing sectors, and these changes have been largely positive.
Challenges in Enforcing Education Policies
Sabah also pointed out the gap between policy and enforcement when it comes to inclusive education. While Iraq has strong laws supporting education for children with disabilities, many children are still denied enrollment due to individual decisions made by school principals.
She cited a recent case where a child was misdiagnosed with ADHD. After an evaluation at KSC’s center for children with special needs, it was determined that the child did not have ADHD and was later successfully enrolled in school.
“Even if the diagnosis had been correct, the law mandates that children with ADHD must be enrolled,” she said, stressing that awareness and training are needed for both educators and medical professionals to prevent such cases.
Importance of Data for Education Reform
Taher Al Kaki, Associate Project Officer at UNESCO Iraq, stressed the importance of reliable data in rebuilding Iraq’s education system.
“One important point I want to raise is the issue we face in Iraq related to special education and the overall Department of Education, specifically the quality of the data we have regarding education and other related topics,” he said.
He elaborated on the need for accurate data, explaining that most statistics in Iraq are based on estimations.
“As part of our ongoing efforts following Phase One of the project, we are collaborating with the Ministry of Education, both in Iraq and in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). One of the main components of this project is the establishment of an Education Management Information System (EMIS), which will provide us with clear, specific data on everything related to the educational system in Iraq,” Al Kaki added.
He concluded, “Having accurate data will support related topics and significantly improve the quality of overall educational programs.”
A Call for Collective Action
Throughout the webinar, panelists agreed that addressing these challenges requires collaboration between NGOs, government institutions, and international organizations.
“We still have a long way to go, but with collaboration between NGOs, the government, the medical community, and other active organizations, I believe we can take meaningful steps forward in supporting children with special needs,” said Sabah.
KSC remains committed to advocating for and implementing programs that enhance access to quality education for all children in Iraq.
For more information about KSC’s education initiatives, please contact: kozhe@ksc-kcf.org
Watch the full webinar video here: https://youtu.be/kk9Jt4tgSLU?si=ksbFcxA43acRrAdS
About KSC
KSC is a non-profit, non-political and non-sectarian organization that provides assistance to children regardless of race, gender, political or religious affiliation. It operates through four essential programs: Child Protection, Education, Health and Youth Ability Development as well as emergency relief during disasters.
KSC’s main aim is to work directly or indirectly to ensure a better future for children by improving and providing their various medical, social, economic and educational needs.
KSC was co-founded in 1991 by Hero Ibrahim Ahmad and Shanaz Ibrahim Ahmad, currently First Lady of Iraq.
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