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Transcript/ScriptBRI 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 TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
Mosul, Iraq
Embargo DateMarch 7, 2023 20:38 EST
Byline
((Namo Abdulla, for VOA News, Mosul, Iraq))
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English