Background and objectives:
 
The development goal of the project is to improve access to and quality of primary education and intermediate levels of education, with particular focus on girls’ schools, and mixed schools in 200 disadvantaged rural areas throughout Iraq. The objectives of the project are to:

• Upgrade 200 girls and mixed schools to child-friendly status
• Create awareness among community and religious leaders on the importance of girls’ education and gender issues
• Equip teachers with innovative teaching methods, and promote gender-sensitive attitudes
• Equip the principals and educational supervisors with supervisory and leadership skills
• Increase parent participation through strengthening of Parent Teacher Associations.
• Include health and hygiene activities in the school curriculum.

Activities:
The main activities included:

• Upgrading of 200 schools through procurement and distribution of school furniture and recreational materials, establishment of safe recreational areas, rehabilitation/provision of water and sanitation facilities in schools, and repair of school buildings
• Gender sensitisation and advocacy among community and religious leaders.
• Improving teaching methods, child-centred learning and gender sensitivity through a study tour and training for 25 educational staff, the upgrade of five schools to multipurpose schools, elaboration of training manuals, elaboration and printing of teaching and learning materials, and exposing 200 teachers to innovative teaching methods.
• Improving supervisory, management and leadership skills of principals
• Establishing guidelines for Parent Teacher Associations and preparation of four PTA meetings.
• Including health and hygiene activities in the school curriculum.  Procurement of sanitation kits to all selected schools. Reprinting 200 manuals for rehabilitated schools
• The project is expected to generate about 2,200 job opportunities, with an expected total of 100,000 person-days employment during the project duration.

Results:
The main results achieved have been:

• Rehabilitation works for three schools completed
• Rehabilitation of 97 schools ongoing in Al Muthana, Dohuk, Missan, Najaf, and Tamim.
• 24 staff, from MOE Baghdad and KRG, trained in Egypt on the importance of girls’ education, modern teaching methodology and gender issues.
• Training for teachers on innovative teaching methods gender-sensitive attitudes under preparation.
• Training for principals and educational supervisors on supervisory and leadership skills under preparation.
• Strengthening of parent teacher associations under preparation.