Summer school gets Iraqi children back to learning
Over 1 million school-aged children are displaced in Iraq, of which nearly 700,000 have lost a full year of learning. This month UNICEF summer school programmes in central Iraq are helping 7,220 students catch up on missed classes.
Students aged six to 16 are attending UNICEF summer classes in Baghdad, Kerbala, Babil, Diyala and Wassit Governorates. Here, children line up to attend classes at Al-Firdous School in Amiriya District, Baghdad Governorate.
Classes convene in school buildings, prefabricated and tent classrooms to ease overcrowding and to ensure as many children as possible get back to learning. Pictured above, an English class in a prefabricated classroom in Abi Alkhasib School, Resafa District, Baghdad Governorate.
With generous funding from Germany’s KfW development bank, summer classes convene at the UNICEF tent school in Al Takiya Camp for displaced people in Karkh District, Baghdad Governorate
UNICEF summer school programmes also give children opportunities to take part in extra-curricular activities. Here, boys at Al-Firdous School learn the art of the jumpshot.
Launched in co-operation with national authorities, the UNICEF summer school programme provides safe spaces for children to process the upheaval they’ve experienced. At the Al Bukhari School, this includes colorful art lessons.
UNICEF summer school programmes incorporate principles of peace education, and include discussion groups where children are encouraged to share their feelings, engage in conflict resolution exercises and to respect the opinions of others.
UNICEF trains teachers, many of whom are themselves displaced, on how to provide psycho-social support to students. Pictured here are teachers at a workshop at Al-Takya Camp for internally displaced people in Baghdad Governorate.
UNICEF helps make classrooms more comfortable by funding the installation of generators or air conditioners. UNICEF also provides school supplies, backpacks, snacks, and in some cases transportation assistance. Above, students on a school bus at the Al-Firdous School.
School not only educates children, it protects them and makes them less likely to marry early, become child labourers, or to support or join armed groups. Above, students celebrate scoring a goal during a football match at a school in Abu Ghraib district.
Graduation ceremonies mark the end of the month of catch up classes at each school. Students are now prepared to join their peers in class during the regular academic year beginning on October 1. Above, a ceremony at Mustafa Jawad School in Baghdad.
Direct donations to UNICEF Iraq: https://support.unicef.org/campaign/donate-now/donate
