Baghdad: Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani launched, today, Sunday, via a television circuit, the executive work of a group of school buildings in a number of governorates, marking the first phase of the “Edopa” project, implemented by the private sector as part of the Iraq Development Fund.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Al-Sudani’s media office issued a statement detailing the launch of the construction of several schools in key areas: Seven Palaces in Baghdad Governorate, Al-Husn neighborhood in Al-Mahawil District in Babylon Governorate, Al-Anbari area in Al-Hartha District in Basra, Al-Halaijiya area in Al-Rumaitha District in Al-Muthanna, and the Ameriya Al-Sumoud area in Fallujah District in Anbar.

Al-Sudani emphasized the significance of the “Edopa” project as a new governmental vision to build schools in partnership with the private sector, featuring modern designs and specifications. This project is structured to utilize private sector funds with service fees, ensuring companies also handle maintenance during the contract, and consulting bodies will oversee adherence to technical specifications and requirements.

He highlighted Iraq’s need for approximately 10,000 school buildings, especially in the governorates, stating that traditional methods are insufficient to meet these needs. Authorities have been instructed to prepare lands for the first phase of the Edopa project, which includes 600 schools. The focus is on selecting sites that address existing issues related to school distribution and ending the practice of double shifts.

The Prime Minister expressed his appreciation for the collaborative efforts with the Iraq Development Fund in preparing land for school buildings. He underscored the government’s commitment to ensuring no project falters and to providing the necessary support for successful implementation by the companies involved.

Al-Sudani also stressed the importance of teamwork across all project aspects, noting that these initiatives offer opportunities for youth in the private sector to gain implementation experience and create additional job opportunities.