Start of school seen as major test for Iraq

[ECH1969]

Iraq's new school year is approaching, and there are more than the usual back-to-school jitters in Baghdad, even for a war zone.

The government is predicting they will. It's forecasting that in Baghdad, 50,000 more high school students will show up for the 2006-2007 school year than the 505,000 the Ministry of Education said were registered last year.

When pressed, education officials acknowledge that they have no idea how many children will show up for the first day of school. Accurate numbers probably won't be available until November.

But there's no doubt that school enrollment is a major barometer of Iraqi confidence in what lies ahead. The Ministry of Education, controlled by supporters of maverick Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, has an annual budget of close to $1 billion to serve roughly 6.2 million school-age children. The ministry employs 500,000 as teachers, administrators or other school staff.

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/world/15520138.htm

[BootinUp]

1. al-Sadr controls the Ministry of Education? oh boy.

I'm sure these schools will turn out lots of open minded young Iraqi citizens.