Iraqi families' spending on private education rises, expert warns of widening gap

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Rising enrollment at private schools and universities in Iraq is pushing up household education spending, with families now allocating hundreds of millions of dollars annually to tuition, supplies, transport and tutoring fees, education specialist Faleh al-Kureishi said. He added that the absence of a comprehensive financial database makes precise figures difficult to determine, though available indicators point to a steady increase in the private share of education financing. Al-Kureishi said the shift toward private education does not reflect a complete loss of confidence in public schools, but is driven by factors including overcrowded classrooms, infrastructure shortages and demand for additional services. Private institutions remain subject to oversight by the relevant official authorities on curriculum, faculty, infrastructure and academic accreditation, he noted, adding that the core issue is strengthening continuous monitoring and safeguarding quality standards. The specialist cautioned against viewing education solely as an investment, warning that profit motives overtaking academic criteria could weaken educational outcomes. He said improving public institutions and tightening oversight of the private sector must proceed in parallel, warning that otherwise the educational divide between lower- and higher-income families could widen further.