Progress claimed in girls’ education in Paktika

SHARAN (PAN authorities say progress has been achieved with regard to girls’ education in southeastern Paktika province, where two schools for the gender are being constructed this academic year.

Provincial education director Prof. Kochi Zazai told Pajhwok Afghan News thousands of girls have been studying in the provincial capital, Sharan, and other areas.

He said 15,000 girls were enrolled in Sharan, Khairkot and Urgun alone. Zazai said a total of 26,000 females have been engaged in literacy and other training courses in Yahyakhel, Janikhel, Yousafkhel, Mata Khan and other districts.

In response to residents and elders’ demand, the education director said two new modern schools for girls would be established at a cost of 28 million afghanis in Yahyakhel and Janikhel districts this year.

“We have been trying to bring in professional female teachers from other provinces and build girl schools in Mata Khan, Sararoza, Yousafkhel, Sarobi and some others districts, including Sharan.”

Zazai continued reconstruction work on 100 schools, a 100 million afghanis project, is underway in Sharan and other districts.

The Student Society chief Bra Khan Takra said girls in most parts of the province are busy studying at schools and education training centers, besides boys. He added schools for girls are operational in secure areas.

Muhammad Ikram Enzar, the Mohammad Rafique Kuchi Primary School headmaster, told Pajhwok Afghan News nearly 300 girls have been studying in his school.

He said if the school was upgraded to a middle or high school, the move would help increase the number of girl students and enable them to continue their studies.

A resident of Nawai Karez region of Sharan, Muhammad Ismail said he was taking part in a literacy course, which involved 90 girls.

He said most literacy courses had gone well this year because teachers received their salaries on time. He also urged the government to build a high school for girls in Sharan.

Paktika has 328 schools — 201 primary, 58 middle and 59 high – with half of them lacking buildings.

fbr/ma