Progress continues on construction of Tarmiyah schools

Photo By Staff Sgt. Lyndsey Prax | Work on a new septic tank for the Qadasiya Primary School in the Tarmiyah Qada, northwest of Baghdad, is almost complete. Construction work began June 22, 2008, and contractors have made significant progress during the past month. When the work is completed, schools will have working septic tanks, new pipes, renovated bathrooms, new paint and new doors as well as supplies.  

TAJI, IRAQ

08.06.2008

Story by Pfc. Lyndsey Prax 

2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division

By Pfc. Lyndsey Dransfield
2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division-Baghdad

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – During the past five years, Soldiers have assisted residents in building, refurbishing and supplying schools with better resources with the hopes of providing a better education.

Soldiers from Company A, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, "Golden Dragons," 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team "Warrior," 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division-Baghdad, visited two schools July 31, 2008, to check the progress of the Qadasiya Primary School and al Sadiq Secondary School in Tarmiyah Qada, northwest of Baghdad.

Construction on both schools began in June.

Since the liberation of Iraq, the population of Tarmiyah has grown. People from Baghdad flocked to the area looking for a safer place to live. Because of the flux of people, many schools are overcrowded with students who have a desire to learn.

Other schools in the area run two shifts daily while trying to provide education for as many students as possible, with each class consisting of up to 60 students. To help redistribute the growing number of students, more schools were needed.

The Al Sadiq Secondary School, an existing schoolhouse in the area, had fallen into disrepair due to lack of upkeep throughout the years, and the Qadasiya Primary School was only a shell that was in process of building when funds were cut short due to al Qaida in Iraq obtaining a strong hold over the city in 2006 and 2007.

The current projects have been funded by Iraqi commander emergency relief program, and MND-B works with the Iraqi ministry of education to complete the projects before the beginning of the school year in September.

The contractors have made significant progress during the past month. When the work is completed, both schools will have working septic tanks, new pipes, renovated bathrooms, new paint, new doors and supplies.

"There is a huge difference from how it was before," said Tofek Sermon, headmaster of Al Sadiq. "It's still not perfect, but it is an improvement for the students."

Upon completion, each school will provide room for up to 600 students to learn.

"Once this [Qadasiya] school is finished, we will be able to cut classes down by half the amount of students and provide better education for the children," said Abib al Hamed Majed Mehsen, member of the MoE committee.

First Lt. Erik Peterson, a native of Littleton, Colo., who is a staff officer with Headquarters Platoon., Company A, 1st Bn., 14th Inf. Regt., works hard to ensure these projects are approved and completed.

"Education is so important," he said. "It prevents ignorance, which I believe is what we are fighting against. These children need to learn languages, history and math, so that in the future, they can provide a positive impact for this country."

• Date Taken: 08.06.2008
• Date Posted: 08.06.2008 03:48
• Story ID: 22167
• Location: TAJI, IQ