Compulsory Education Law (Law No. 118 of 1976)

The Compulsory Education Law (Law No. 118 of 1976) was adopted by the Revolutionary Command Council, Iraq, which was the highest governing body in Iraq during the Ba’athist regime in 1976. The Revolutionary Command Council was the primary legislative authority. The Ministry of Education oversaw implementation of the law, including teacher recruitment, curriculum development, and school construction.

This law mandates that all children in Iraq must attend school starting at the age of six. The law obligates the government to provide free education and infrastructure, including schools, teachers, and learning materials. Parents or guardians who fail to enroll their children in school can face legal penalties. The law was adopted during a period of national modernization under the Ba’athist regime, which aimed to tackle illiteracy and build a skilled workforce to support Iraq’s economic development. In the 1970s, Iraq had one of the highest illiteracy rates in the Middle East, particularly in rural areas and among women. The government sought to transform education into a vehicle for social mobility, equality, and national progress.

By the early 1980s, Iraq had achieved significant progress in primary school enrollment, with rates reportedly exceeding 90%.[1] Female enrollment in primary education also improved, narrowing the gender gap in some regions. The government invested heavily in building schools, particularly in rural and underserved areas, to accommodate the growing student population. Alongside compulsory education, national literacy campaigns targeted adults and older children who had missed formal schooling, contributing to a decline in illiteracy from 74% in 1977 to 40% by 1987.[2]

However, decades of war, sanctions, and instability beginning in the 1980s disrupted education systems. By 2003, UNICEF estimated that nearly 20% of primary-age children were out of school, and infrastructure in conflict-affected areas had been decimated.[3] The subsequent impact of poverty and economic hardships forced many families to prioritize income generation over education, leading to high dropout rates, especially in rural areas. Despite initial progress, cultural norms and socio-economic barriers continued to restrict girls’ access to education in certain regions. In 2022, UNESCO reported that 26% of girls in Iraq were out of school, compared to 16% of boys.[4] While access expanded, the quality of education often suffered due to underfunding, lack of teacher training, and outdated curricula.

Overall, the Compulsory Education Law was a landmark policy for Iraq, marking a commitment to universal education and aligning with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 28 on the Right to Education. Its adoption contributed to early successes in expanding access to primary education and reducing illiteracy, particularly among rural and female populations. However, the law’s implementation has been uneven, undermined by decades of conflict, economic crises, and systemic inequalities. Significant gaps remain as of 2025, particularly in rural areas, conflict zones, and among displaced populations. In urban centers, a significant number of private international schools continue to thrive, serving the families of economic elite.  According to UNESCO (2023), 2.6 million children in Iraq remain out of school, highlighting the ongoing challenges in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 on Quality Education.[5]

[1] UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). “Education Enrollment Data for Iraq.” Available at: https://uis.unesco.org

[2] Iraq Ministry of Education, National Literacy Campaign Report (1987).

[3] UNICEF. “State of Education in Iraq.” (2003). Available at: https://www.unicef.org

[4] UNESCO. “Global Education Monitoring Report: Gender and Education in Iraq.” (2022). Available at: https://gem-report-2022.unesco.org

[5] UNICEF Iraq. “Education in Iraq: Overview and Challenges.” (2023). Available at: https://www.unicef.org/iraq