Education programme
"Revive the Spirit of Mosul" is about ensuring a safe learning environment for every child. Iraq is going through a period of transition. Most children have missed three years of education, from 2014 to 2017, while those who stayed in school were exposed to the violent and extreme Da’esh ideology. In particular, teachers struggled to deliver appropriate teaching and learning avoiding the imposed ideology.
To undo some of the damage, UNESCO launched the project Prevention of Violent Extremism through Education (PVE-Education). PVE-Education is being implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Stichting ZOA, the Iraqi Institution for Development and Ulster University. The PVE-Education project strengthens primary school teachers and learners' resilience to violent extremism and their commitments to non-violence and peace through appropriate educational strategies.
The aim is to develop cognitive and behavioural skills - such as critical thinking, multi-perspectivity, understandings of complexity, moral courage and responsible online behaviour.
UNESCO has already trained 2,000 primary school teachers in 130 schools, 750 secondary school teachers in 50 schools, as well as school principals, 5,400 parents (75% women) and 50,000 children and youth who were sensitized with educational messaging through social media.
With EU support, UNESCO is also working on access to quality primary and secondary education for the community, including addressing the needs of refugees, the displaced and others.
This effort aims to create safe and conducive learning environments in schools, strengthening teaching capacity, providing textbooks and learning materials to school age children, improving children’s well-being through psychosocial support and reducing risk to children by raising awareness about leftover ordnance and mines.
Al Ekhlas Primary School
Al Ekhlas Primary School has been a fixture in the west side of the Old City of Mosul for nearly 60 years. In 2016, the students and their families saw their dreams of a promising future crumble under the weight of war and destruction. With the support of the European Union, UNESCO is rebuilding this school.
The first milestone was reached in January 2020 when ARCO, Architecture and Cooperation, completed the design of Al Ekhlas. Students, parents and school administrators contributed their ideas for the design through a consultative process. Reconstruction work is now underway. When it reopens, the school will follow UNESCO’s Happy Schools framework, promoting a culture of peace and reconciliation that starts in the classroom.
Technical and Vocational Education and Training programme
UNESCO has launched a technical and vocational education and training programme (TVET) for adults in Mosul which brings together general education, the study of technologies and related sciences, and the acquisition of practical skills relevant to the world of work.
A total of 1,315 trainees were already reached, of which 18% were women. They will graduating in competency-based technical and vocational training in construction. Eighty per cent of the graduates will join on-site work-based training rehabilitating historic buildings.
The skills acquired are relevant to the broader construction industry which will increase trainees’ chances of future employment. Heritage and home reconstruction projects are also major sources of employment for these trainees. UNESCO has already created 2037 jobs under Reviving Mosul and Basra Old Cities project since the start of the initiative and at least 1,000 more are planned.
"When the city was liberated, I had no more hope and I couldn’t find a job. But, in 2019, I heard about TVET and applied. A couple of months later, I got the call to join a training on concrete department that lasted for 45 days. This training opportunity came with a first job: a work monitor in Shams alhumam company which is also funded by UNESCO. After the completion of this contract, I was ready to find a job myself. I applied for Sami company as I am working in right now. TVET really affected my life positively "
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"We receive the names from the vocational institute or from the unemployment database. So that trainees can learn a new work while supporting their families, they will also receive an amount of money as per diem expenses"... "We make proposals adapted to each one."
Rebuilding a body of heritage professionals and craftsmen
UNESCO implemented a training programme with ICCROM and the University of Mosul responding to the need to rebuild a body of heritage professionals and craftsmen in Mosul and ensure their direct involvement in the reconstruction process.
The training programme targets two categories: 50 local professionals – architects, engineers, and archaeologists – to be involved in assessing and documenting the damage and defining interventions and 70 local craftsmen to undertake the restoration and reconstruction work.
The first step was launched in 2021, including a map of the most common historical materials and constructive techniques in Mosul, and a complete assessment of craftsmanship in Mosul, in order to evaluate the actual need especially in stone masonry, alabaster restoration, plaster, metal works, carpentry.
A 3-day workshop, including site visits and field exercises orientation session was implemented in January 2022.
Enhancing Employability for Vulnerable Youth
To enhance employability of graduates in relevant economic sectors meeting the needs of the labour market in Ninawa through employment oriented training programmes based on updated curricula and upgraded facilities of Mosul Vocational Training Centre and two Vocational schools
This proposed project benefits from the synergies of UNESCO’s “Reviving the spirit of Mosul and Basra Old towns” TVET component, which will develop the Mosul VTC into a Centre of Excellence (CoVE) for delivering construction skills training with a competency-based focus. This proposal looks to scale up this approach by focusing on an additional 3 sectors of relevant economic activity for Ninawa (including 1 for the Mosul Vocational Training Center).
“My mother didn't like the idea of me working on construction sites as they are usually staffed by men. But she allowed me to work when she came at the beginning and saw other young women working here”
