Reuters: 30% percent of Iraq's students are currently attending school

[sabra]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IRIN/f90f37068737141f556e65a54bd0165d.htm

IRAQ: School attendance rates drop drastically

BAGHDAD, 18 October (IRIN) - Thousands of students have been forced to stay at home due to escalating violence across the country. Attendance rates for the new school year, which started on 20 September, are a record low, according to the Ministry of Education.

Recently released statistics from the Ministry indicate that only 30 percent of Iraq's 3.5 million students are currently attending classes. This compares to approximately 75 percent of students attending classes the previous year, according to UK-based NGO Save the Children.

"Last year I had nearly 80 students in my class. Today, there are less than 25. Families are keeping their children safe at home, waiting to see how violence will spread, particularly after many schools were targeted countrywide," said Hiba Addel Lattef, a teacher and coordinator at Mansour Primary School in the capital, Baghdad.

...

Ali al-Ka'abi, public officer at the Ministry of Education, said the problem is worse in the capital and in cities of the western Anbar Governorate, where up to 30 percent of schools are being used by US and Iraqi troops.

[ck4829]

1. But... but... All those schools that we built!

[qanda]

2. What the?

"30 percent of schools are being used by US and Iraqi troops" HUH???????

[sabra]

3. I am going to assume it's not for educational purposes...

[RB TexLa]

4. this place is sounding more and more like pre-storm New Orleans everyday