Officials: Hundreds of displaced children in south unable to get into school

A soldier with the 318th Psychological Operations Company hands out school supplies during a mission in Lutafiyah on April 19

NAJAF/BASRA, 7 May 2007 (IRIN) - The increase in the number of displaced children in the southern governorates has left hundreds of students out of school, according to education departments in the south.

"The most affected governorates are Najaf, Basra and Muthana where the number of displaced families is increasing daily. As free education allows children to join schools chosen by their families, there are no places for newly displaced children or many who are already residents," said Ali Kareem, media officer for the secretary of education in Basra provincial council.

"We have a shortage of books, pencils and chairs. We cannot accept more students as teachers are having difficulty teaching because the number of students has nearly doubled," Kareem added.

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