Coalition forces help repair school

Photo By Spc. Cal Turner | Students raise their hand to answer questions from their teacher at the Irarreyah Girls School in Shat Al Taji. Coalition forces and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently finished renovating and repairing the school with the help of the local nahia and contractors.  

TAJI, IRAQ

04.25.2006

Story by Spc. Cal Turner 

4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - As new facilities and resources are set-up to help the Iraq government stand on its own, Coalition Forces and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continue to focus on smaller projects around the area to provide support for local communities.

The Irarreyah Girls School of Shat Al Taji received repairs to improve the facility. With the help of a local nahia and civil affairs, a contractor made repairs and additions to the school.

Fred Nightengale, resident engineer on Camp Taji, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, visited the school April 12, to take a look at the renovations. Nightengale has been in Iraq for almost a year working on various projects.

"Basically we did the construction management for the contract," he said. "Our mission was to rehab the building, build two classrooms, paint, repair the roof, repair tiles and fix the windows. We came along with the brigade to inspect the work."

During the visit, a local sheik, along with ministry of education officials, met with Lt. Col. John Cross, commander, Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, to discuss the school's future and the relationship of the community with Coalition Forces.

The local nahia voted to approve the work, went to the Iraqi government for final approval, and hired the contractors to perform the work. The project started in December and was conducted while the school remained open.

"It was a chore trying to get the work done with classes in session," said Nightengale, "but (the school) appreciated the work. There was a lot of stuff that needed to be done."

For the Iraqis, helping the community is very important.

"Most of the contractors were very interested in helping the community," said Nightengale. "They donated extra items and work to help out in the community."

The small local all-girls school educates approximately 360 girls from the area in basic knowledge skills and Islamic fundamentals.

"We teach them the Islamic Religion and about new developments in the world," said School Headmistress Rushed. "We work to make sure they are good girls and start their lives as good mothers or helping their communities."

The school is especially crucial to the community because it offers more than an initial start in the educational careers of the students.

"The school is very important, because it is the only school that serves the people in the area," said Rushed, "and it is a primary and intermediate school. We teach first grade to ninth grade. I'm very happy for the project, because it helps the students. The public is thankful for the help of the Coalition Forces, who were a part of this project."

• Date Taken: 04.25.2006
• Date Posted: 04.25.2006 08:53
• Story ID: 6105
• Location: TAJI, IQ