Issues of Public and Private Education in Iraq through the Most Prominent Official Government Reports, 1925–1945: A Documentary Study

Abstract

Official correspondence, which represented the voice of the Directorate of Education during the period of direct British control over Iraq under the British Mandate, and later during the period of indirect control following Iraq’s independence, revealed the extent of neglect that befell this sector. Although education constituted the principal foundation for the progress of the nation, marginalization and superficiality dominated this vital sphere. Official follow-up of the general educational situation either encountered the scarcity of financial allocations in the state budget designated for this sector or the difficulty of implementation on the ground within a society afflicted by the scourges of ignorance and poverty.

The study presents the state of education during the British Mandate in Iraq from 1925 to 1932, together with the most significant official correspondence concerning major governmental measures under a state that controlled all of Iraq’s resources, including the decision-making process, which remained constrained from 1914 until 1932. Britain continued to serve its diplomatic relations and strengthen its influence, giving priority to the gains it derived from the Mandate at the expense of the benefits it offered to others.

In addition, the study discusses Iraq’s transformation from a mandated state to an independent one, and examines the extent to which successive Iraqi governments sought to avoid confrontations with major powers that might jeopardize their support for independence.