Scared Tagab students stay away from schools

MEHMOOD RAQI (PAN): A number of schoolchildren in the Tagab district of central Kapisa province on Monday complained they could not go to schools because of security posts established nearby.

Taj Mohammad, a ninth class student at the Shaheed Abdul Ghayas Middle School, told Pajhwok Afghan News local police had established their posts near their school. Fearing militant attacks on the security personnel, students were not willing to go to the school, he said.

“Since the posts were established last winter, I and my several classmates are not going to the school,” the student said.

In the past they had observed most of rockets hit the school walls during clashes between the rebels and the police, he recalled.

Another middle school student in the Shakot area, Khairullah, recalled one of their class fellows was injured in the crossfire between militants and police during a clash near their school. After the incident, he said, students felt scared to go to the school.

Similarly, a student of another school said local police had set up checkpoints near their school. Several students had injured during clashes between militants and the police and as a result, students and teachers stayed away from the school.

The district education officer, Pir Mohammad Sappi, confirmed the problem, saying the insurgents regarded the district as a security zone. Several schools remained abandoned for months after security posts were established near them, he said.

Education Ministry spokesman Amanullah Iman said no one had the right to establish security posts near schools. He said the issue would be raised with officials concerned because previously they had no information about the posts.

“We call on all parties to the conflict to spare schools,” he said.

Kapisa Governor Gen. Mehrabuddin Sappi said security was their first priority and education second. He said the security situation in Tagab had improved with the establishment of new security posts.

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