Efforts on to reopen 100 shut schools in Helmand

LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): Education officials in southern Helmand province on Thursday said about 120 schools which are closed due to insecurity would be reopened during the new academic year.

Daud Safari, provincial education director, made these remarks during a ceremony marking the beginning of new academic year.

He said about 400 schools existed in Helmand and 119 of them had been shut due to insecurity. “Our efforts will be to reopen one hundred schools for students as we have talked to tribal elders and Taliban in this regard.”

Safari added about 3,000 new students would be enrolled this year. Despite lack of financial resources, he said, they completed 66 schemes and work on other projects worth 130 million afghanis was underway.

He said at least 100 schools were operating in sub-standard rented houses in Helmand and the Ministry of Education (MoE) would provide 1.5 million textbooks but they needed more textbooks.

Saif Malok, a member of the provincial council, accused some individuals of interfering in the education sector, which had a negative impact on the sector.

Governor Mohammad Yaseen Khan at the end of the ceremony said serious steps would be taken with the help of tribal elders to reopen closed schools.

He promised to prevent interferences and land grabbing in the education center and urged residents of the province to send their children to schools.

sa/ma