Iraqi schools overwhelmed

Hundreds of young Iraqi women gather in a school playground in Baghdad.

Massive overcrowding at the al-Fadhila secondary school for girls means students are forced to cram into classrooms.

Crippling economic sanctions and three wars have wreaked havoc on Iraq's education system that was once one of the finest in the Middle East.

Dhamia, a deputy head at al-Fadhila, says the school has almost 1000 pupils and there can be up to 70 in one class.

SOUNDBITE: Dhamia, deputy head at Al-Fadhila secondary school, saying (Arabic) :

"This has a big impact on education and the student will not understand the lesson due to the crowded classes. And this will have an impact on the teachers as well, the teacher will not be able to follow up the student."

Many schools were bombed in the 2003 American-led invasion and others have closed because of sectarian violence.

The surviving schools are not only overwhelmed with pupils but are in a state of disrepair, lacking basic water and sanitation facilities.

Al-Khaldiya primary school in the Shi'ite slum of Sadr city has to teach several school populations in staggered shifts.

Headmaster Ali Abid Seleeb says the school just can't cope.

SOUNDBITE :Ali Abid Seleeb, headmaster of Al-Khaldiya primary school, saying (Arabic) :

"The main problem, which we suffer from, is having schools with triple shifts, and triple shift schools lead to crowded schools."

There are more than half a million pupils in the east Baghdad slum but only 260 school buildings.

A recent World Bank report said better education in the Arab world was urgent and highlighted Iraq as among the world's worst educational reformers.

Katherine Baldwin, Reuters

gath·er v. gath·ered, gath·er·ing, gath·ers
v.tr.

1. To cause to come together; convene: The teacher gathered the students around the exhibit.

2.a. To accumulate (something) gradually; amass: The top of the bookshelf gathered dust.

b. To harvest or pick: gather flowers; gather wild foods.

3. To gain by a process of gradual increase: gather speed.

4. To collect into one place; assemble.

5. To pick up and enfold: gathered the kittens into her arms.

6. Printing To arrange (signatures) in sequence for bookbinding.

7.a. To draw into small folds or puckers, as by pulling a thread through cloth.

b. To contract and wrinkle (the brow).

8. To draw about or bring (one thing) closer to something else: gathered the shawl about my shoulders.

9. To conclude; infer: I gather that a decision has not been reached.

10. To summon up; muster: gathered up his courage.

11. To attract or be a center of attraction for: The parade gathered a large crowd.

v.intr.

1. To come together in a group; assemble: A crowd gathered in the lobby.

2. To accumulate: Dark clouds are gathering.

3. To grow or increase by degrees.

4. To come to a head, as a boil; fester.

5. To forage for wild foodstuffs.

wreak tr.v. wreaked, wreak·ing, wreaks

1. To inflict (vengeance or punishment) upon a person.

2. To express or gratify (anger, malevolence, or resentment); vent.

3. To bring about; cause: wreak havoc.
hav·oc n.

1. Widespread destruction; devastation.

2. Disorder or chaos: a wild party that created havoc in the house.

shift - the time period during which you are at work
staggered shifts - To arrange in alternating or overlapping time periods: staggered the nurses' shifts.