Requirements for Developing Research-Oriented Schools in Diyala Province, Iraq
Keywords:
Research School, Implications, Educational Development, Diyala ProvinceAbstract
This study aims to identify and explain the theoretical and practical requirements for developing research-oriented primary schools in Diyala Province, Iraq. This qualitative study was conducted in two main phases. First, a systematic review of recent scholarly literature was performed and analyzed using thematic narrative synthesis to extract the key components of research-oriented school development. Second, a qualitative Delphi process was implemented with local education experts in Diyala across three rounds until high consensus was achieved. Data were collected through open-ended questionnaires and analyzed using thematic and qualitative content analysis techniques. The findings resulted in the identification of seven core clusters: organizational structure and leadership, organizational culture, curriculum and instructional processes, professional development and capacity building, knowledge management and technology, evaluation and continuous improvement, resources and infrastructure, and partnerships and community engagement. The final model demonstrated strong contextual suitability and high expert agreement. The study concludes that developing research-oriented schools in Diyala requires an integrated framework that simultaneously addresses organizational, cultural, instructional, technological, and social dimensions to enhance educational quality, innovation, and social equity.
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