Once regarded as having one of the best education systems in the region, Iraq has had a difficult history with its education. From to , Iraq had achieved multiple accomplishments , such as lowering the rate of illiteracy in children ages six to 12 to less than 10 percent and having an equal inclusion of genders in the classroom. The war with Iran in , the Gulf War in the s and the Invasion of Iraq have greatly damaged the once inspiring education system. With one in five schools destroyed and unusable, teachers having to work double shifts for smaller pay and nearly 3.