Recently, the Iraqi Ministry of Education issued instructions to facilitate the enrollment of Lebanese students in public schools. [Getty]
Public and private schools in Iraq have begun offering free education to Lebanese students to alleviate the hardships faced by Lebanese families displaced by Israeli attacks. The initiative aims to ensure that Lebanese children do not have access to education as Israel’s ongoing war continues the flow of families to Iraq.
Recently, the Iraqi Ministry of Education issued instructions to facilitate the enrollment of Lebanese students in public schools across the country, providing support and simplifying the admission process. The Directorate General of Evaluation and Testing provided guidelines for accepting these students into Iraqi educational institutions.
The directorate said Lebanese students will be enrolled in the nearest school according to their current grade level based on their place of residence. If official documentation is not available, students may enroll with a letter of guarantee signed by their parents. Additionally, those who complete a major stage of their education, such as elementary school, middle school, or high school, can receive official school grades upon successful completion.
Many Lebanese students have already been integrated into Iraqi public schools and are starting the new school year benefiting from the newly introduced measures. However, several challenges remain, such as the limited number of public schools and the distance from residential areas.
In response, several private school operators came forward and offered free education to Lebanese students, according to a report by Safa al-Kubaisi, a reporter for Baghdad’s al-Arabi al-Jadeed newspaper. .
The initiative started in Basra and has since expanded to other provinces. These private schools not only provide free education but also cover the cost of textbooks and supplies.
The move aims to alleviate the suffering of Lebanese students and their families, said Adil al-Miyahi, principal of Basra Private School.
He explained that public schools in some residential areas are too far away, and private school administrators have offered to help because the number of students in public schools is large. Al Miyahi told The New Arab magazine’s Arabic sister publication Al Arabi Al Jadid that many Lebanese students are already enrolled in private schools for free, and that they are also provided with free books and stationery. He said that it has been done.
He also stressed that teachers have been instructed to pay special attention to Lebanese students, as the differences between the Lebanese and Iraqi curricula can pose challenges in understanding the material.
Asad al-Mahmouri, a member of the Iraqi Teachers’ Union, acknowledged that the initiative, which started in Basra, has since expanded to other provinces, including Meysan, Diqar and Diwaniyah. He noted that the generosity shown by Iraqi schools reflects the country’s commitment to supporting Lebanese families during this difficult time.
Al-Mahmouri pointed out that dozens of Lebanese students have already started attending private schools, forming friendships with their Iraqi peers and beginning to integrate into Iraqi society.
Iraq’s Ministry of Education has stressed the importance of ensuring Lebanese students have no access to education, and authorities say this integration has a positive impact on students’ mental health and that Iraq is He expressed confidence that the city will feel like a second home. in their time of need.
Prior to this, the Iraqi government issued a directive to facilitate the entry of Lebanese nationals into Iraq in response to Israel’s attack on Lebanon. The government has also allocated 3 billion Iraqi dinars for aid and support to displaced Lebanese families, with more than 8,000 Lebanese nationals arriving in Iraq so far.
