BAGHDAD, October 3 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – The start of the new school year in Iraq showed an unprecedented low turnout, largely blamed by parents on chaotic security conditions grabbling the country and the occupation forces.

"My son is afraid of the US tanks. I don't know what to do? I see them [US forces] pass by the school nearby our house," Heba Jaafar, an Iraqi mother, told the London-based Al-Quds Press news agency.

"Sounds of US gunfire and hovering helicopters send waves of panic among our children."

The Iraqi mother remains torn between fear for the safety of her child and his future.

"What would happen if he gets caught in a clashes between resistance fighters and the US forces? I'm afraid for my son but school is his future."

At least 50 people were killed, most of them children, and scores wounded on Thursday, September 30, in a string of car bombings in and around Baghdad and in fresh US strikes.

Security Hazards

The Iraqi parents are afraid to lose their kids over the security chaos in the war-torn country.

"I wanted to wait and see what happens today, in this country no one is safe. Not us and not our children," Souad Mohammed, a teacher and mother of four, told Reuters.

"Now a new worry is added to our fears...the fear of not having our children back to the house after school."

The Iraqi school year usually starts in mid-September but it started this year two weeks late over the insecurity problems in the country.

Before the US-led invasion-turned-occupation, Iraqi parents used to accompany their kids to the first day of school to help them get customary with the school, but now they go with their kids to protect them from the different security hazards.

Abduction

The Iraqi interior ministry said many Iraqi children were also kidnapped for ransoms.

"Many families who have kidnapped sons refuse to report on the incident under threats of the gangs, and consequently mission of the Iraqi police becomes very difficult," police officer Yasser Abdullah said.

"During last summer exams, a student was kidnapped in front of the school, for 20,000 dollar ransom. After negotiations, the gang accepted 7,000 dollars to release the kidnapped student."

Poor Attendance

Attendance in the Iraqi schools this year has been remarkably lower over than ever.

"We have about 10 children in each class which is the least we have had in years, even last year," said Salam, a teacher at The Family elementary school in Baghdad.

"Of course, parents are worried. They didn't send their children to school, not only because they fear something might happen at the school but also because the roads are not safe."

Well Attended

The Iraqi education minister, however, insisted the first day of the school year was well attended.

He said he understands fears of Iraqi parents to send their kids to schools.

"Security remains our number one priority and concern," Sami al-Mudhaffar told Reuters after meeting worried parents.

"What we are really worried about now is the security matter which is not in our hands and we can't control it," he said.

"We can't just issue a decree saying that Baghdad, for example, should be a safe province and then it is. Security is not a decision from a minister and this what worries us."

The Iraqi official said the education ministry had taken new measures with the interior ministry to provide police officers to secure the schools.

"Even if we prepare an army and we assign every student a guard, I don't think the problem would be solved," he said.

"The problem can only be solved when everyone believes that keeping these students safe is everybody's responsibility."

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