Iraq's 20,000 illiterate electric ministry employees is indicator of larger dysfunction - analysis
The problem is that the 20,000 employees are working in a key energy infrastructure field in a country that is now at the center of the Iran conflict with the US and Israel.
The Iraqi electricity ministry employs nearly 20,000 individuals who are unable to read or write, a statistic highlighting the broader dysfunction within the country's infrastructure sector. This issue has become increasingly relevant due to Iraq's central role in the geopolitical tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran.
The situation has escalated with several Iranian officials visiting Iraq to influence its policies, offering to allow Iraq to export more oil through the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for ending a plan to curb Iranian-backed militias.
The presence of such a large number of illiterate employees is indicative of a deeper systemic problem within Iraq's government, largely attributed to the influence of Iran. Historically, Iran has sought to control Iraq and make it reliant on its energy resources. The Kurdish autonomous region, however, has managed to overcome many of its electrical challenges through substantial investment and the Dana Gas project at the Khor Mor field, which supplies gas to power plants in Erbil and other areas, providing around 75% of the region's electricity capacity.
Iran's interference in Iraq's energy sector is evident, as seen in its targeting of the Khor Mor field with Iranian-backed militias, disrupting gas and electricity supply. Moreover, there is now an ongoing dispute over natural gas supply claims by Dana Gas and Crescent Petroleum, contradicting the regional government's assertions.
The electricity ministry's illiterate staff may also be classified as "ghost" employees, with the education ministry official stating that nearly 20,000 employees were enrolled in a literacy program, primarily due to the hiring of contract workers in recent years.
The illiteracy crisis extends beyond the electricity ministry, affecting other parts of the government. For instance, the Interior Ministry has 11,000 employees learning to read. Iraq's overall literacy rate stands at 15.3%, with lower-ranking personnel in security forces, local police, municipal services, and facility protection forces being disproportionately affected.
Despite being a nation rich in oil and natural gas reserves, Iraq has struggled to deliver reliable electricity due to decades of conflict, including the Iran-Iraq War, Gulf War, sanctions, the 2003 US-led invasion, and the ISIS insurgency. Additionally, Iraq's heavy reliance on Iranian energy imports since 2017 has further exacerbated the country's energy challenges.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
