German-Iraqi Schools

The Iraqi education system faces significant challenges. Despite a doubling of student numbers from 3.6 million to 6 million between 2000 and 2012, and a further increase to 9.2 million in the 2015/2016 school year, the quality of education remains a critical issue. The education budget accounts for only 5.7% of government spending, leading to underfunding of the sector. In a groundbreaking collaboration between the Ayaat Foundation SbR and the Iraqi Embassy in Germany, six German-Iraqi schools were established in Iraq. This initiative aims to improve the educational landscape in Iraq, with a focus on STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and the German language.

The Ayaat Foundation SbR, in collaboration with the Iraqi Embassy in Germany, launched an ambitious project to establish six German-Iraqi schools. These schools, focusing on STEM subjects and the German language, were built at strategically important locations: Baghdad, Basra, Babylon, Nissan, Nasiriyah, and Kut. The realization of this project was based on close cooperation between German and Iraqi partners. A 30-member Iraqi delegation, including the German Ambassador Carl Georg Christian Berger, studied the German education system on-site. This collaboration was further strengthened by a student exchange program in which 15 Iraqi students visited Germany.

The establishment of these schools marks an important step toward improving the educational situation in Iraq. Initial surveys on site show positive trends: within three years after completion, enrolment rates increased in the affected districts. At the same time, regional teachers report a statistical decrease in the average dropout rate by more than 25%. These data support the assumption that investments in educational institutions can produce immediate, measurable social effects. The project has already had a positive impact on the surrounding communities and is sparking interest in similar initiatives in other regions.