Iraq needs to build at least 8,000 schools as part of a post-war plans to rehabilitate the education sector and face growing needs, the country’s Prime Minister was reported on Tuesday as saying. 

Mohammed Al-Sudani said nearly 250 schools would be constructed in Baghdad in 2023 within the plan that comprises new school buildings in various governorates. 

“Around 250 new school buildings will be built in Baghdad next year…they are part of larger plan which involves the construction of more than 8,000 schools in various governorate,” Sudani said in statements carried by the official Iraqi news agency. 

The Prime Minister, who took office in Oct, revealed plans to create an “Iraq Fund for Development” in the 2023 budget and that it would cover education and other sectors. 

China in 2021 signed an agreement with Iraq to build 1,000 schools under their 2019 oil-for-projects deal stipulating Chinese firms undertake projects in the Arab country in exchange for crude oil supplies. 

(Writing by Nadim Kawach; Editing by Anoop Menon)

(anoop.menon@lseg.com)