Due to the country's volatile security situation, expats rarely opt for education and schools in Iraq. In fact, many companies specifically have policies against employees enrolling their children in local schools. Expats will usually either leave their families at home, where their children can continue their schooling, or send them to boarding school in a country with a more stable education system.
Public schools in Iraq
While public schooling in Iraq is free at all levels, it is only compulsory for children between the ages of 6 and 11. As a result of the country's struggles, however, it has been difficult to provide Iraqi children with a decent standard of education.
Schools in Iraq are poorly resourced, and buildings are in desperate need of repair. Attendance rates are low, and children often drop out of school due to safety concerns and to help support their families.
Private schools in Iraq
The public school system in Iraq doesn't supply the population with adequate education, and local parents who can afford to send their children to private schools instead. There are a number of these institutions throughout the country.
Private schools generally offer the national curriculum. While sending one's children to a private school may be very expensive, these schools do generally have better facilities and teaching standards than public schools.
International schools in Iraq
The number of international schools in Iraq shrank significantly in the years following the 2003 invasion, although a number remain, particularly in Erbil and Baghdad. These offer foreign curricula, including those of the UK and the US, as well as the International Baccalaureate.
Although a few international schools can be found, the region's instability makes it ill-advised for expat children to attend school in Iraq. It's best that they either remain in their home country to continue schooling or opt for a boarding school in a more stable country.
Special-needs education in Iraq
While Iraq does have a number of special institutes for children with special needs, these institutes are limited – both in terms of which conditions they can help with and the extent to which they are able to help.
Efforts have been made to integrate special-needs education into mainstream public schools, and a number of schools have dedicated separate classes for students with special needs.
Generally speaking, international schools are more able to cater to special-needs children than the public system, although this typically comes at an extra cost.
Tutoring in Iraq
Home tutoring is available in Iraq through various companies or private teachers, and there are websites available online where parents can apply for a tutor for their child.
Some international schools in Iraq also offer after-school tutoring for either groups or individual students. Children attending these schools can therefore sign up for sessions if in need of extra tutoring.