In Iraq’s Muthanna Province, new schools are rapidly emerging along the Euphrates River. Every morning, children with schoolbags fill these freshly built campuses, their reading voices echoing on the edge of the desert.
Local students pose for a photo with project staff. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
This development is part of a landmark initiative by PowerChina Hubei Engineering Co., Ltd. (HYPEC), a subsidiary of Power Construction Corporation of China (POWERCHINA).
Over the past three years, HYPEC has constructed 53 schools, enabling more than 50,000 local children to return to classrooms, bringing fresh hope for locals in the area.
A view of the new school built by PowerChina Hubei Engineering Co., Ltd. [Photo/saac.gov.cn]
The construction team overcame extreme desert heat challenges, insisting on high standards from design to execution. They adopted innovative techniques, made full use of available land, and even transformed small unused plots into playgrounds and green belts, creating a more holistic learning environment for the students.
When the first schools were delivered in 2024, local education officials remarked: “The Chinese schools have planted seeds of hope for Iraq’s long-term development.”
Beyond improving education, the project has also boosted local employment and industry. It has created over 1,000 jobs, engaged more than 10 local companies, and trained a group of Iraqi engineers capable of managing projects independently. As more schools open, the demand for teachers has risen, allowing young people like Mustafa to return to the profession and find renewed opportunities.
Today, children run freely across the playgrounds, young teachers stand proudly at the lecterns, and local engineers contribute to new construction projects. These “Chinese schools” are not only a new starting point for Iraq’s social development but also a vivid symbol of the warmth and depth of China-Iraq cooperation.
(Executive editor: Yuan Ting)
