Location Baghdad, Iraq Address Baghdad, Iraq Phone +964 771 663 6016 | Website baghdadcollege.net Founded 1932 | |
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Established 1932; 85 years ago (1932) Religious affiliation originally Jesuit (Roman Catholic) Motto An Iraqi School for Iraqi Boys Notable alumni Ayad Allawi, Howar Ziad, Loris Ohannes Chobanian Similar Al‑Hikma University, Baghdad College for Economic, University of Baghdad, Baghdad Pharmacy College, Al‑Mustansiriya University | ||
The story of baghdad college
Baghdad College (Arabic: كلية بغداد) is an elite high school for boys aged 11 to 18 in Baghdad, Iraq. It was initially a Catholic school founded by and operated by American Jesuits from Boston. The 1969 Iraqi government nationalization and expulsion of Jesuit teachers changed the character of the school. It has been compared in the British media to Eton College and is arguably Iraq's most famous secondary school for boys, having produced an Iraqi Prime Minister, a Deputy Prime Minister, a Vice President, two dollar billionaires and a member of the British House of Lords, amongst many other notable alumni.
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Baghdad college
History
Baghdad College was founded in 1932 by William A. Rice, S.J. (who would later become Bishop in Belize, Central America). Pope Pius XI requested the establishment of a Catholic school in Baghdad to serve the Muslim population there, and the church sent four Jesuits to establish the school. One of them was Fr. John Mifsud, who was of Maltese origins. The school originally had four Jesuit teachers and 107 students. The school motto was "An Iraqi School for Iraqi Boys". The school was initially located in ten buildings, located at 11/45 Murabba'ah Street in Baghdad, on the east bank of the Tigris River, on 4 acres (1.6 ha) of land in the northern part of the city. Father Leo Guay designed the campus buildings, using Iraqi architecture as an influence. Courses were conducted in English. National Public Radio stated that at the time it was Baghdad's "premier high school." Soon after its founding the teaching staff included 33 Jesuits and 31 Iraqi lay teachers. Some of the Jesuits were fluent in the Arabic language, and others had established Arabic classes to try to teach themselves the language. The student body became over 1,100; Most of the students were children of the Iraqi elite. Historically about 20% of the students received scholarships. About half of the students were Muslims and half were Christians; Jews were also students. Baghdad College's pupils included Iraqis, Armenians, Egyptians, Iranians, Palestinians, and Syrians.
The school did not attempt to convert Muslims into Christianity, and students were not required to attend chapel services. Richard Cushing, a cardinal from Boston, privately criticized the school for not getting converts. Laith Kubba, an Iraqi activist and former student, stated that the school helped him become a better Muslim.
Anthony Shadid, an American, stated in an essay that the school symbolized a secular-at-the-time Iraq, the manner in which the two countries perceived each other, and the notion that the U.S. and Iraq "could allow themselves an almost idealistic version of each other. I think that's impossible today, and I say that with a certain sense of sadness."
During the Baathist Iraq era, students were required to take courses on Saddam Hussein. The classes about Saddam ended after the 2003 invasion of Iraq. As of 2005 the school still accepted the top students in Baghdad. Dexter Filkins of The New York Times stated "Today, Baghdad College is becoming more its old self." In 2012 Anthony Shadid stated that the school had experienced "disorderly decline".
The graves of five Americans are located in the school's cemetery. One of them is that of a teacher who was employed by Baghdad College for 35 years.
Notable alumni
Pre-nationalisation
Post-nationalisation