Iraq Launches National Education Strategy

“We applaud the Government for its commitment to ensure all children have the right to a quality education, especially the thousands of children who are currently missing out on the timely development of the competencies, skills and opportunities that a quality education will provide them," said Dr. Marzio Babille, UNICEF’s Representative to Iraq. "We now look forward to working so that all children complete their primary education on time and continue on to secondary school."

The strategy also emphasizes the importance of having quality curricula, institutions, and resources in higher education.

“With an emphasis on improving secondary and post-secondary education, this strategy responds to Iraq's basic needs in education in the short term, while stimulating a longer term competitive knowledge-centred economy,” said Mohamed Djelid, Director of the UNESCO Office in Iraq. “It has been designed to constitute the foundation of a modernized Iraqi State where decision-making is based on research and planning.”

“With the full implementation of this strategy, Iraq will meet the aspirations of its citizens for quality education and lay the cornerstone for a competitive 21st century economy" said Mrs. Marie-Helene Brisknell, the World Bank’s Special Representative to Iraq.

The national education strategy was developed by a committee of education experts and advisors within the ministries of education and higher education in Baghdad and Erbil, with international technical expertise and guidance provided by UNICEF, UNESCO and the World Bank. The strategy was developed through a series of nationwide consultations since 2008.

(Source: UNICEF)