THE REPUBLIC OF IRAQ By: Jake Plante HISTORY OF IRAQ Formerly Known as Mesopotamia Under Ottoman control from early 1500’s to 1932 Independence in 1932 OVERVIEW OF GOVERNMENT Location: Middle East bordering the Persian Gulf Type of Government: Parliamentary Democracy with a federal system of government. President: H.E. Mr. Jalal Talabani ECONOMY Characterized by heavy dependence on oil exports and emphasis Prior to war, Economy had a bright future Iran-Iraq War devastated Economy A griculture EDUCATION Centralized government -run educational system Average cost per student: $620 Almost complete gender parity ENROLLMENT RATES IRAQI CULTURE 75% of the population is Arab 15-20% of the population are Kurds 5% are smaller groups 96% Muslims, 3% Christian, 1% Jews Shia vs. Sunni SECURIT Y Resurgence of violence since withdrawal of American Troops in 2011 Rival political factions Institutional Weakness UNESCO RESTORATION OF EDUCATION Education remains the major area of UNESCO assistance to Iraq. Aim to reform through capacity -development Increase access of quality education to vulnerable students Improving types of Education (Technical, Vocational, Literacy and Life Skills, Secondary) SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT SUPPORT Water issues are extremely important for Iraq’s future Capacity building of water institutions in Iraq project Rehabilitation of Karez Systems CULTURE RESTORATION National capacities development of the protection, restoration, and conservation of Iraqi cultural property National framework to develop cultural policies leading to sustainable development in place. COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION Improved Governance Protection of Human Rights through communication and information program Media SUMMARY WORKS CITED Works Cited "Iraq." GlobalEDGE. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2013. <http://globaledge.msu.edu/>. "Iraq." Iraq | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2013. <http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/worldwide/arabstates/Iraq/>.