BRI Iraq Schools China -- {USAGM}

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Metadata
  • BRI Iraq Schools China -- {USAGM}
  • March 8, 2023
  • Content Type Package
  • Language English
  • Transcript/Script BRI Iraq Schools China HEADLINE: Questions Arise as China Constructs Thousands of Schools in Iraq TEASER: War-devastated Iraq is relying on foreign nations, including China, to help rebuild its education infrastructure DATE: 02/28/2023 PUBLISHED AT: 02/28/2023 at 5:30pm BYLINE: Namo Abdulla CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: Mosul, Iraq VIDEOGRAPHER: Namo Abdulla PRODUCER: Namo Abdulla SCRIPT WRITER: Namo Abdulla SCRIPT EDITORS: ELee, Bowman VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO_X_ TRT: 3:30 VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath TYPE: TVPKG UPDATE: EDITOR NOTES: ((INTRO)) It's been more than five years since Iraq declared victory over the Islamic State terror group, yet much of Iraq is still reeling from its aftermath. The government says the country needs 12,000 new schools, and it's looking to outside countries, including China, for help. Namo Abdullah reports that Iraqis are eager to see new schools constructed despite uncertainties surrounding the deal.]] ((NARRATOR)) In Mosul, the Ghasaanya School is an example of what happens when war comes to town. Here, a few reminders hint at a once-bustling school that had served generations of students in this northern Iraqi city. [[FOR RADIO: One of the school’s former students is Fahd Abdul-Salam.]] ((Fahd Abdul-Salam, Former Ghasaanya School Student)) ((Male)) ((In Arabic)) "I used to have fond memories of my school, but unfortunately, it was destroyed during the conflict in Mosul." ((NARRATOR)) Iraq’s war to oust the Islamic State devastated the country's infrastructure, including schools. The government estimates 12,000 new schools are needed nationwide. It recently signed contracts with two Chinese firms to build 8,000 of them. The project is expected to take up to eight years, with the initial phase – constructing 1,000 schools – now underway. This is welcome news for students like Abdullah Abdullah, who complains of overcrowded classrooms. ((Abdullah Abdullah, High School Student)) ((Male)) ((In Arabic)) "When there are too many of us in the classroom, there's too much noise, and it's impossible for us students sitting in the back to understand [what's being taught]." ((NARRATOR)) But some Iraqis worry that an unconventional financing arrangement will lead to many substandard schools. Former Minister of Higher Education in Kurdistan-Iraq Dlawer Ala'Aldeen explains how China is handling the projects. ((Dlawer Ala'Aldeen, Former Iraqi Kurdistan Minister of Higher Education)) ((Male, Speaks English)) "They subcontracted in a much-reduced price to Iraqis, so Iraq ended up losing out and the financing was not actually a debt or borrowing, it was paid for through oil." ((NARRATOR)) Subcontracting risks money being siphoned off by middlemen. ((Sardar Aziz, Iraq-China Relations Analyst)) ((Must Credit: Zoom)) “So if that is the case, then it means there is less money for the real builder of the schools. And when there is less money, then worse quality [schools]. // The more hands in the project, and as we know in the current climate of Iraq, the more possibility of corruption.” ((NARRATOR)) VOA e-mailed the Chinese Embassy in Baghdad as well as Power China and Sinotec, the two companies working on the project, for comment but did not receive any responses. In addition to China, the EU and the U.S. are helping Iraq rebuild its education system. But the U.S. has reduced its footprint in Iraq in recent years while Beijing’s presence has become increasingly noticeable, with its firms constructing dams, power plants, even a science city as a part of an oil-for-projects deal. In Irbil, Salahaddin University’s Chinese language department opened in 2019. Teachers from China come to teach Mandarin. Rayyan Mustafa Qadir, a student here, says she anticipates business opportunities stemming from Beijing's growing presence in Iraq. ((Rayyan Mustafa Qadir, Student)) [[English]] "I saw that Chinese language is one of the important languages in the world, so I choose it -- I think I can get better jobs.” ((NARRATOR)) From teaching Chinese to building schools, many Iraqis welcome China’s help to rebuild their country. For Fahd Abdul-Salam, the former student, it doesn't matter which country is helping Iraq; he just wants to see schools become places of learning again. ((Namo Abdulla, for VOA News, Mosul, Iraq)
  • NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
  • Network VOA
  • Location (dateline) Mosul, Iraq
  • Embargo Date March 7, 2023 20:38 EST
  • Byline ((Namo Abdulla, for VOA News, Mosul, Iraq))
  • Brand / Language Service Voice of America - English
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