Muhsin, teacher and headmaster

»I am a refugee like my students. Each day (except the Islamic holiday Friday), I'm teaching from 8:15 am to 17:15 pm and at the same time I manage a school in the camp.
I'm earning 429,000 Iraq. Dinar (about USD 360) per month. As teachers, we try to focus on each individual student and we pay special attention to the children who are missing their parents, siblings or relatives.
I was sad when we did not have a school during the early stages of the camp, but now I feel good because we have the schools and the children can attend classes.
However among some students, there is a lack of previous knowledge which they could possibly have gained in the kindergarten.
And I wish that each student can return to his old place of residence in Sinjar and attend his former school there.
We strive very hard so that the students don't miss anything of their subject matter.
In the first place, the students need really good lessons to improve their skills and financial help would be useful too, because many students are poor and for example they can not afford a school uniform.
Actually, the school is too small and the classes should not have more than 15 students, that means we need more schools and space for the students.
Many families emigrated from the camp to Europe during the time the schools were opened in the camp and this has had a negative impact on the children who have stayed here and missed their friends. Some students can not concentrate in class because they want to emigrate to Europe, too.
We also offer additional time to our students so they can handle the psychological difficulties of displacement and we are successful in doing it.
One consequence of the war and the displacement is also that some students just don't want to learn anymore. The home of most children is Sinjar, where Daesh has destroyed a lot and killed many people.
I am happy in my profession as a teacher, but I would be even happier if we could teach again at our former schools in Sinjar.
The most important thing in our lives is learning and education.«

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