Iraqi students return to schools full time for first time since COVID-19 pandemic

Record ID: 1693112

  • Title: Iraqi students return to schools full time for first time since COVID-19 pandemic
  • Date: 12th October 2022
  • Summary: BAGHDAD, IRAQ (OCTOBER 12, 2022) (REUTERS) STUDENTS PULLING THEIR SCHOOL BAGS WHILE ENTERING SCHOOL STUDENTS GREETED UPON ARRIVAL TO SCHOOL VARIOUS OF STUDENTS GATHERED IN SCHOOL PLAYGROUND (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) IRAQI PARENT, NAWARA MAJED, SAYING: "In the past years, due to the Corona(virus) pandemic, we noticed a decline in the educational level of students due to e-learning. E-learning is not the same as in person education with the role of teachers in class and the school environment. In addition, parents had a big responsibility in transmitting information (to students) and whatever efforts they put in they do not deliver information to students as the teacher does. The teacher has a big role in the attainment of students in school who receive information directly from the teacher. This raises the level of attainment and the comprehension of students." SCHOOL PRINCIPAL ADDRESSING STUDENTS VARIOUS OF STUDENTS WALKING TO CLASS VARIOUS OF STUDENTS IN CLASS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, TAHRIR MAZAAL, SAYING: "Online education was two days a week. Of course, we faced problems in delivering the material to students, it's not like when students are in school and listen to the teacher directly. As for teachers, they sent videos, they sent assignments, but it was a burden on parents and teachers at the same time. After a while, attendance (to school) became four days a week, the situation improved and students' grades improved. God willing, this year, we aspire for attendance to be 100 percent and for students to get better results.” VARIOUS OF STUDENTS SINGING AND CLAPPING IN CLASS BAGHDAD, IRAQ (OCTOBER 5, 2022) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) OFFICIAL IN CHARGE OF ONLINE EDUCATION AT BAGHDAD’S EDUCATION DIRECTORATE, ASRAA AL-RAWI, SAYING: "Among the biggest problems we faced is firstly poor internet and the poor financial situation of our students. The families of students do not only have one child, some of them have four or five children starting from primary school, middle and secondary school, and also university. They need good internet and smart devices like tablets and phones, but having one device (was problematic) because their schedules differed. As for the weak financial situation of families, there are areas in Iraq, I’m not talking about Baghdad only, where there is no internet, they don't even have electricity." BAGHDAD, IRAQ (OCTOBER 12, 2022) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF STUDENTS IN CLASS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) IRAQI PARENT, ALI ALI, SAYING: "With e-learning, no matter how much the teacher or the family makes an effort with the student, it won't be the same as students attending class themselves and listening to the teacher where the information would be relayed better and the environment is better. We are not qualified as parents to convey the information as the teacher does." TEACHER TALKING TO STUDENTS VARIOUS OF STUDENTS IN CLASS BAGHDAD, IRAQ (OCTOBER 5, 2022) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) OFFICIAL IN CHARGE OF ONLINE EDUCATION AT BAGHDAD’S EDUCATION DIRECTORATE, ASRAA AL-RAWI, SAYING: "Through our experience, we have seen that globalisation and technology in our schools have confirmed many problems but also reduced them. Therefore, we now have online education and groups. Schools have to use computers, even in printing books, this is all because of online learning. We wish there would be a continuation of a hybrid system between (online and) in-person learning, so this experience would continue and we don't end it immediately. People are exposed to many things that could be even worse than coronavirus. We, in Iraq, are exposed to many situations so in order to continue and keep up with the times, there should be a day or two, or after-hours, of online education, which got us through a lot of obstacles and enabled us to complete two years of teaching and finish the curriculum." BAGHDAD, IRAQ (OCTOBER 12, 2022) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF STUDENTS IN SCHOOL
  • Embargoed: 26th October 2022 15:34
  • Keywords: EDUCATION IRAQ SCHOOLS STUDENTS
  • Location: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
  • City: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Topics: Education,Middle East,Society/Social Issues
  • Reuters ID: LVA001165812102022RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Iraqi children returned to school on Wednesday (October 12) full time for this academic year for the first time since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, following full closures and inconsistent reopenings.
    This came as a relief to many students, educators and parents who voiced concerns over what they perceived as a loss of educational attainment due to online learning.
    "With e-learning, no matter how much the teacher or the family makes an effort with the student, it won't be the same as the students attending class themselves and listening to the teacher where the information would be relayed better and the environment is better,” an Iraqi parent, Ali Ali said.
    According to a report by World Vision published earlier this year, school closures in Iraq which spanned over 63 weeks were among the longest around the world. Furthermore, school reopenings have been inconsistent.
    This has left up to 7.4 million children without access to education due to limited computer ownership, access to the internet and poor connectivity, the report said, impacting their educational attainment and development.
    Nevertheless, according to Asraa al-Rawi, an official in charge of online education at Baghdad’s education directorate, the advances made in integrating technology into schools should not be lost.
    “We wish there would be a continuation of a hybrid system between (online and) in-person learning, so this experience would continue and we don't end it immediately,” she said.
    (Production Maher Nazih Maria Semerdjian)
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