It was announced in the capital, Baghdad, today, Wednesday, the launch of the project 'Equitable Quality Education in Iraq, Improving Teaching and Learning and Enhancing Educational Management' (ITALEEM) under the supervision of the Ministry of Education, and in cooperation with the European Union and the UNESCO and UNICEF organizations, as this program aims to enhance the Ministry of Education's ability to reach more than 100,000 teachers and 30,000 schools. The Minister of Education, Ibrahim Al-Jubouri, said during the official announcement of the launch of the program's activities: 'We appreciate the efforts made by our partners in the European Union, UNESCO and UNICEF in order for learners to obtain a quality and fair education, as this educational program will support the Ministry of Education and improve the level and quality of performance that targets more than 10 million Iraqi students. For his part, the European Union Ambassador to Iraq, Thomas Seiler, stressed, 'The ITALEEM program is more than j ust an educational program; it is an investment in the future of Iraq. By harnessing data, empowering communities, and supporting education workers, we are building the foundation for a more equitable and impactful educational experience for all Iraqi students. He added, 'We are pleased to announce the launch of the ITALEEM program, which is a pioneering educational program designed to empower learners and teachers in Iraq,' noting that 'this program is based on four basic pillars' utilizing technology in making data-based decisions, strengthening partnerships between the school and the community, equipping teachers to achieve success, and enhancing civil society participation. He added 'Through the ITALEEM programme, we also aim to unleash the full potential of the education system in Iraq and enable future generations to flourish.' In turn, Ambassador Paolo Fontani, UNESCO Representative in Iraq, said, 'As access to education improves, Iraq needs to invest in improving the quality of teaching and learning , guided by evidence-based educational planning, continuing professional development, supporting teachers, and integrating educational technologies.' He added 'UNESCO is committed to supporting the national implementation of the Educational Information Management System, and implementing the Ministry's plan for capacity development and in-service training for teachers in partnership with the government, development partners and civil society organizations, to achieve the goals set in the National Strategy for Education in Iraq 2022-2031. Source: National Iraqi News Agency