Evaluating the efficiency of the spatial distribution of schools for gifted students in Basra Governorate using Geographic Information Systems (cartographic study)

Abstract

Gifted schools represent a turning point in public secondary education and are a step in the right direction, as educational diversity is an indicator of sustainable development. These schools in Iraq in general, and in Basra Governorate in particular, are of paramount importance due to their unique features, which have made them a growing demand for most of the governorate's students, especially the gifted. Therefore, the researcher identified an urgent need to study this human phenomenon and address it through mapping techniques using geographic information systems (GIS) techniques. This helps highlight its strengths and weaknesses, thus restoring this experience and sustaining its success. This will meet contemporary demands for the best educational services, making them readily available and accessible, according to standardized criteria specific to these vital services.

Insufficient capacity in these schools could negatively impact the number of qualified students, as admission is based on the available capacity of each school, and selection is based on the highest scores in the Ministry's achievement test.

The number of teachers, classes, and students is standard in most schools, except for the central school, which is experiencing a significant influx of students.

Most schools suffer from double shifts and a lack of affiliated schools, which reduces the quality of service and the number of teaching hours.

Poor geographical distribution, as revealed by the spatial analysis, has resulted in a large number of students being deprived of access to these schools, such as those in Safwan and Al-Khor, which are approximately 80 km and 40 km away, respectively. This is extremely difficult.