STORY: Chinese-built school helps fulfill dreams of Iraqi children 
SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 29, 2024
DATELINE: Nov. 30, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:28
LOCATION: Baghdad 
CATEGORY: SOCIETY 

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the school
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): AMMAR RISAN, Headmaster of the al-Musahama Model School
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): WISSAM JAWAD, Deputy director general of the 2nd Rusafa Education Directorate 
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): MA CHENG, General manager of Chinese EBS Petroleum Company, a subsidiary of Zhenhua Oil  

STORYLINE:

"We never expected to work in such a school," said Ammar Risan, headmaster of the al-Musahama Model School, a modern school recently constructed by the Chinese firm Zhenhua Oil in eastern Baghdad.

For students and teachers in the al-Kargholiyah district of Iraqi capital Baghdad, the dream of having a school with modern infrastructure had been out of reach.

"Previously, we were running a dilapidated school, a school in name only because it was about to collapse, which forced us to evacuate two classrooms," Risan recalled.

"The students suffered a lot during school hours in the dilapidated classrooms," he said. "But things have changed thanks to the efforts of the Chinese company that built this important project."

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): AMMAR RISAN, Headmaster of the al-Musahama Model School   
"The former school building was so old that it could no longer be called a school from the architectural point of view, and teachers and students suffered a lot during the school day, with no safeguards and no logistical services.
We are very grateful to the Chinese company for building such a school for us. It means a lot for realizing our educational ideals. We never even thought we could have such a school."

With 18 classrooms, six integrated laboratories, a football field and other advanced educational facilities, the al-Musahama Model School has made Risan and his students feel very proud.

Wissam Jawad, deputy director general of the 2nd Rusafa Education Directorate, said the school is "the first of its kind in this area in terms of construction speed, quality of work, and school equipment."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): WISSAM JAWAD, Deputy director general of the 2nd Rusafa Education Directorate  
"The school is truly exemplary in all its details. It contains laboratories and a football field, and the school is completed in a fast speed. It is certain that the school will bring about a qualitative change in local education and will have a long-term social impact in the local community."

Ma Cheng, the general manager of Chinese EBS Petroleum Company, a subsidiary of Zhenhua Oil, can still remember the first time he visited the old school campus.

"The cracked walls, dilapidated desks and chairs, and dim lighting broke our hearts," said Ma, whose child is the same age as the students there.

Ma said children are the future of the country, and education is the foundation for ensuring the sustainable development of nations.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): MA CHENG, General manager of Chinese EBS Petroleum Company, a subsidiary of Zhenhua Oil
"Children represent the future of a nation, and education is the foundation for ensuring the long-term development of a country. Both China and Iraq, as ancient civilizations, place great importance on education. We also hope to contribute in a tangible way to this country, which is still in the process of post-war reconstruction."

According to data from the UN Children's Emergency Fund, about 3.2 million school-age children are currently out of school as a result of wars, violence, and the deterioration of the education system in Iraq.

By building more schools for the children, Ma said they hope to contribute to Iraq's reconstruction and facilitate the understanding between the Chinese and Iraqi peoples.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Baghdad.
(XHTV)