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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
May 22, 2012 - 5:37:21 PM |
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Blackanthem Military News
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| Mr. Drew Blakeney, Karbala Provincial Reconstruction Team Leader enters the newly constructed Husayniyah Primary School Dec. 27 in Husayniyah, Iraq. The school was built in 14 months and cost 1.4 million dollars and will hold over 480 students from the local area. |
BABIL, Iraq - The Husayniyah Primary School held an opening ceremony in Husayniyah, Iraq, Dec. 27, opening its doors to local Iraqi children and capping the Karbala Provincial Reconstruction Team's project in province.
The school is located in a rural area of Husayniyah, which allows access for the children in the local farming areas to attend classes without much travel. The new facility also has an outside play area and basketball court.
Local Iraqis, Karbala PRT members, members of the provincial government and soldiers from the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment gathered at the entrance to mark the opening of the school. Mr. Drew Blakeney, Karbala Provincial Reconstruction Team Leader, was given the honor of cutting the ribbon to signify the opening of the school.
"This school is serving a community that previously didn't have any schools. Now we expect about 250 kids to start using the school right away," said Blakeney.
The facility, built at a cost of $1.4 million, has over 12 classrooms and is large enough to hold over 480 students. The project was funded by the Commander's Emergency Response Program, a program designed to enable local commanders in Iraq to respond to urgent humanitarian relief requirements to assist the local population in their areas of responsibility.
The project began in October 2009 and was completed in 14 months, making this school one of more than 500 built in Iraq since 2003. The PRT has four more ongoing school projects in the Karbala Province.
"We see a good cooperative effort between the local councilmen, the provincial council and, of course, the national government in establishing this school and providing the educational foundation for the children here," said Brig. Gen. Randal A. Dragon, United States Division -South Deputy Commanding General for Support.
The school is part of the agreement between Iraq and the U.S. to make education a major concern for the newly established government.
Provincial Reconstruction Teams in Iraq have previously spent in excess of $1 billion building more than 500 and refurbishing approximately 2,500 schools in Iraq, said Blakeney. In addition, the PRT has given more than 2.3 million textbooks and trained 33,000 teachers.
The school is the first one of its kind in Husayniyah, and with PRT efforts and the support of the local and national Iraqi governments; it is not expected to be the last.
ADDITIONAL PHOTO:
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| Brig. Gen. Randal A. Dragon, United States Division-South, Former Deputy Commanding General for Support sits with local Husayniyah, Iraq leaders in a classroom inside the newly constructed Husayniyah Primary School. The school was the first in the area and will hold 480 students. |
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