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In Helmand, 250,000 children deprived of education

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28 Dec 2020 - 12:19
author avatar
28 Dec 2020 - 12:19

LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): Education officials in Helmand, where 250,000 children are still deprived of education, say 96 schools will be constructed in the southern province in the next two years.

Education Director Mohammad Wali Sarhadi, in an exclusive interview with Pajhwok Afghan News, said his department planned to construct buildings for 96 schools in the province over the next two years.

He added the project had been approved by the Ministry of Education and practical work on the scheme would begin soon.

These school buildings would be constructed in Musa Qala, Washer, Sangin, Kajaki, Deshu, Khanshin, Marja, Nad Ali, Nawa and other districts, he explained.

“We are trying to construct buildings for all schools across the province,” continued Sarhadi.

At least 11 school buildings have been constructed in Nad Ali, Nawa and Garmser districts during the ongoing solar year.

The director said 220,000 students, including 40,000 girls, were enrolled in schools but 250,000 others were deprived of education due to insecurity in the province.

“Of the out-of-school children, 50,000 are girls, most of them from remote districts of the province. Security issues and cultural restrictions have prompted families to stop their girls going to school,” he remarked.

The official claimed they were working in collaboration with local tribal elders to facilitate children’s education in the restive province.

Akhtar Mohammad, studying at school in Lashkargah, the provincial capital, said he had come from Nad Ali district only for getting better education.

“Our school in Nad Ali had no building; there were no proper education courses. We came to Lashkargah, where we have access to schools with buildings and education courses,” he added.

Residents of Nad Ali and some other districts were not interested in children, particularly for girls, the student told Pajhwok.

Helmand is one of the unstable provinces of the country and the Taliban have full control of all the six districts there.

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