JALALABAD (Pajhwok): The newly-appointed education director for eastern Nuristan province says insecurity and improper management on local level has affected the education process in the mountainous province.
Mohammad Amin Hamad told Pajhwok Afghan News that schools in Nuristan lacked teaching materials, teachers and buildings and most of the times schools in many areas were closed for security reasons, rendering in complete the education process.
“Of the total 225 schools in Nuristan, only 40 have buildings and as a result, thousands of students attend classes in tents or under the open skies and trees,” the official said.
Hamad said seven schools had so far been torched by insurgents in the province where another two schools had been closed for the past six years.
“The schools closed by Taliban are in Waigal area and it’s now a sixth year of their closure. These two high schools were better compared to others because it had experienced teachers who held master’s degrees from Russia. But now I have initiated my work as education director and these schools will be reopened in a few months.”
Hamad, who took over as the education director about a month ago, accused his predecessors of doing nothing to improve the education system.
He requested the Ministry of Education (MoE) to give construction of school buildings a priority in Nuristan. “I seriously ask the ministry to help us in construction of buildings. All of our schools should have buildings in the next two or three years. If the MoE gives us approval of 10 buildings’ construction each year, this issue will be resolved.”
The provincial council also dubbed the education situation in the province as worrisome, accusing relevant officials of neglecting the existing problems.
Secretary of the provincial council, Khalillullah Ghoyor, said finding resolution to the current problems was not possible in a short time, calling upon the people to fight for their rights.
“There is no possibility for the current problems to be addressed in near future because they require much time and a lot of efforts.”
Governor Hafiz Abdul Qayum said construction work on buildings for 14 schools could not be finished due to corruption in the past.
He said currently buildings were being constructed for the Teachers’ Training College, Technical and Vocational Institute and Darul Uloom (Islamic seminary or educational institution) in the province; however, he criticized the MoE for paying no proper attention to the province.
“I myself had complained against the education minister for not paying the attention Nuristan needed. I sent him plans how to start work on school buildings and how to address the shortage of professional teachers, but the plans were given no value.”
The situation of education in Nuristan could not judged from students’ participation in the Kandor (university entrance test). According to officials, 300 students sat the exam last year and only 150 this year.
sns/ma
Views: 2
GET IN TOUCH
NEWSLETTER
SUGGEST A STORY
PAJHWOK MOBILE APP