Bartella Primary School Reconstruction
This reconstruction project responds to the urgent need to restore safe and functional learning spaces in Bartella, a predominantly Assyrian town in Al-Hamdaniya District that suffered significant infrastructure damage between 2014 and 2017. The targeted primary school, which serves over 400 students from Bartella and surrounding villages, has been operating with partially collapsed classrooms, exposed electrical wiring, and a roof that no longer provides adequate protection during the winter rainy season. The reconstruction scope includes rebuilding three damaged classroom blocks from the foundation up, replacing the entire roofing structure with reinforced materials designed to withstand heavy rainfall, and rewiring the building to meet modern safety standards. Sanitation facilities will be fully renovated, including separate restrooms for boys and girls and improved water access points, addressing long-standing hygiene concerns raised by parents and teachers. The project also funds the supply of new student desks, chairs, whiteboards, and a complete set of educational materials, including science kits and library books, many of which were looted or destroyed during the occupation period. A small outdoor playground and shaded seating area will be constructed to give children a safe space for recreation during breaks. Contractors will work closely with the school administration and the district education directorate to minimize disruption to the academic calendar, with construction phased around school holidays where possible. Local labor will be prioritized during reconstruction to support the town’s economic recovery. Once completed, the school is expected to accommodate returning families and reduce overcrowding in nearby temporary learning spaces, contributing to the broader stabilization and return process across Bartella and the wider Nineveh Plains.