By Spc. Grant Okubo
4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division
FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq - Iraqi children in eastern Baghdad have something to look forward to this fall with the unveiling of a new primary school in the Al-Neel neighborhood of Rusafa, July 17.
Rusafa District Council members, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Soldiers and 3rd Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment Soldiers combined efforts so Iraqi children in the Al-Neel area will have a school to attend to receive a formal education. The 3rd Sqdn., 89th Cav. Regt. is part of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad.
About 200 students will attend the new school in Al-Neel, said Maj. John Schulz, a civil affairs officer with Company B, 418th Civil Affairs Detachment, which is attached to 4th BCT, 10th Mtn. Div.
Work on the school began in January, said Schulz, a Prescott, Ariz. native. The school grounds include the main classroom building, an administration office wing, a guard building, a playground, a break area, restrooms and a power generator, he explained. Schulz was happy with the work contractors completed on the school.
"The contractors have gone above the scope of requirement," said Schulz. "In addition to the contracted work, additional work was included to improve the condition of the school."
Contractors built extra sinks in the bathrooms, added an extra courtyard and used high-end quality furniture, according to Schulz. Iraqi department of education officials toured the school long before its opening and were very pleased with the school and its facilities, said Schulz.
"The officials thought it (the school) was of such high quality that they wanted their own children to attend this school, even though they live outside the area," relayed Schulz.
Schulz was extremely happy with the results. There was a big change from start to finish of the project, he commented, crediting an increased role of district council members.
"Al'aa Dagher, Rusafa District Council chairman, played a large role in bringing Iraqi and U.S. officials together for this project," said Schulz. District council members are very insightful regarding which neighborhoods are in need of new schools, he said.
After the ribbon cutting ceremony, Ahmed Bndar, the director general for the ministry of education spoke about the high quality of the facilities. He expressed his wish to ensure proper upkeep so future students can enjoy the high-quality facility. Bndar promised to take steps to ensure that the maintenance of the school is upheld. He said he plans to schedule random inspections to ensure this will be carried out.
Bndar thanked all the people who have helped to make the project possible and their coalition partners for their support.
Schulz said this is only the beginning, because more Iraqi children will have new schools to attend as the Iraqi ministry of education and their U.S. partners are working on remodeling 12 to 14 other schools in Rusafa. The Al-Neel primary school is a model for future schools in Iraq, and the government hopes to build a few thousand more schools like this throughout Iraq, said Bndar.
Education is an important principle in Iraqi religious beliefs, explained Dagher. Projects such as the Al-Neel school opening are important for Iraq's future, he said.
| Date Taken: |
07.17.2008 |
| Date Posted: |
07.18.2008 11:10 |
| Story ID: |
21611 |
| Location: |
BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: |
374 |
| Downloads: |
327 |
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This work, Al-Neel school opens in Rusafa, by SPC Grant Okubo, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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