An authorized official at the Iraqi higher education and scientific research ministry has announced that the study of foreign languages by Iraqi students has increased drastically since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime. The official revealed, according to Azzaman newspaper, that Iraq was disconnected for decades from the external world. Now after the elimination of the Baath regime, many Iraqis want to study foreign languages so that they can get jobs more easily.

The official added that the Iraqi universities are aware for this trend and consequently many of them have added or expanded the language departments at their university. He revealed also that many private languages institutions were opened.

© 2005 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)