By: Jake Plante

THE REPUBLIC OF IRAQ

Formerly Known as Mesopotamia

Under Ottoman control from early 1500’s to 1932

Independence in 1932

HISTORY OF IRAQ

Location: Middle East bordering the Persian Gulf

Type of Government: Parliamentary Democracy with a federal system of government.

President: H.E. Mr. Jalal Talabani

OVERVIEW OF GOVERNMENT

Characterized by heavy

dependence on oil exports and emphasis

Prior to war, Economy had

a bright future

Iran-Iraq War devastated

Economy

Agriculture

ECONOMY

Centralized government-run educational system

Average cost per student: $620

Almost complete gender parity

EDUCATION

ENROLLMENT RATES

75% of the population is Arab

15-20% of the population are Kurds

5% are smaller groups

96% Muslims, 3% Christian, 1% Jews

Shia vs. Sunni

IRAQI CULTURE

Resurgence of violence since withdrawal of American Troops in 2011

Rival political factions

Institutional Weakness

SECURITY

Education remains the major area of UNESCO assistance to Iraq.

Aim to reform through capacity-development

Increase access of quality education to vulnerable students

Improving types of Education (Technical, Vocational, Literacy and Life Skil ls, Secondary)

UNESCO RESTORATION OF EDUCATION

Water issues are extremely important for Iraq’s future

Capacity building of water institutions in Iraq project

Rehabilitation of Karez Systems

SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT SUPPORT

National capacities development of the protection, restoration, and conservation of Iraqi cultural property

National framework to develop cultural policies leading to sustainable development in place.

CULTURE RESTORATION

Improved Governance

Protection of Human Rights through communication and information program

Media

COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION

SUMMARY

Works Cited"Iraq." GlobalEDGE. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2013.

<http://globaledge.msu.edu/>."Iraq." Iraq  | United Nations Educational, Scientific

and Cultural Organization. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2013. <http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/worldwide/arab-states/Iraq/>.

WORKS CITED