Graft alleged in education, population census depts

KUNDUZ CITY (Pajhwok): Some youth in northern Kunduz province have accused the departments of education and population census of massive corruption, saying posts of teachers and principles are being sold.

Speaking to reporters in Kunduz City, the provincial capital, Youth Reaction office-bearers alleged bribes were openly received from applicants for the posts of teachers and principals.

Esmat Muslim, the organisation’s head, claimed having evidence of the education director taking bribes from applicants, who were made to pay 40,000 to 100,000 afghanis to education officials for jobs.

Muslim also assailed the Population Census Department of brazen graft. “Getting the national identity card (tazkera) is the right of every Afghan, but an individual from Europe could easily get it for 7,000 afghanis to $1,000…”

He asked the government to pay immediate attention to the issue and resolve it on priority.

Some people who had been asked for bribes by education department officials also spoke at the press conference.

Faiz Mohammad, a youth who appeared in test for the fifth-grade teacher at the education department, charged he was asked to pay a bribe for appointment to the position.

“Members of the monitoring board at the education department demanded 100,000 afghanis or $1,000 for my appointment,” the applicant claimed.

Sher Agha, another young job seeker, said: “We were five guys who appeared in the test, including four bachelor degree-holders. But a 12^th class graduate with the right links was appointed.”

But Education Director Rustam Ahmadi rejected the allegations of Muslim as groundless. He said appointments to the education department were fair and transparent.

He added: “I totally reject the claims of the organisation. They is a small group trying to fuel ethnic differences and bring bad name to the education department.”

Rohullah Quraishi, head of the Population Census Department, also spurned the allegations. He said no one without the required documents and proofs had been issued tazkera.

nh/mud