ORHA Fact Sheet - Ministry of Education

ORHA Fact Sheet Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance Thuraya Phone: 88-216-7744-1080 Email: orhapic@yahoo.com Ministry of Education Fact Sheet May 11, 2003 Overview The Ministry of Education is responsible for the overseeing of primary and secondary education, as well as educational reform to include setting curricula, assessing and auditing schools, opening schools and revising textbooks. All this will help to create a modern education system that will provide quality education for all Iraqi children. Many of the Ministry of Education concerns are focused on pre-war issues such as attendance and school infrastructure. Prior to the war, only 75 percent of all school-age children attended school and only 33 percent attended secondary school. School buildings were in a state of disrepair due to regime neglect and numerous schools were used as arsenals. Currently there are 16,000 primary and secondary schools in Iraq and 8 million students; it is estimated that currently 30 percent of students are attending school. Goals of the Ministry In the short term, the Ministry of Education will work to increase enrollment, provide security for students, pay teachers and repair schools. The long-term goals are to strengthen the capacity of the ministry in curriculum development, teacher training and education administration. The Ministry of Education has not yet appointed an interim minister. Dorthy Mazaka, USAID, is currently serving as the interim senior advisor to the ministry. The Ministry of Education has 900 employees who are working three shifts daily out of the Teacher Training Institute to accomplish their goals.