Peace will strengthen if economy, education improved: Teacher

QALA-I-NAW (Pajhwok): A teacher in western Badghis province, who has 28 years service instructing students, termed peace as ‘the greatest achievement’ since the fall of the previous regime, and said that all the people of the country should make efforts for the durability of peace in the country.

Abdul GhaniSoodmand, 48, is a resident of Qala-i-Naw, capital of Badghis province..Serving as a teacher in a school in Qala-i-Naw city since 28 years, Soodmand said that he had worked in different situations but had never left his job.

He adds that besides school subjects, he has always tried to teach his students the importance of peace and mutual acceptance.

He said four decades of conflicts in the country had caused both human and financial losses to him and his relatives, but they never preferred to leave the country and instead stayed and prayed for the better future of Afghanistan.

Calling the peace established after the fall of Ashraf Ghani administration one of the greatest achievements, he said “Now is the time for all of us, at every level and wherever we are, to consolidate and strengthen peace.”

“Our house was bombed by Russian planes, unfortunately some of our family members were wounded, my cousin was killed and our house and belongings were destroyed. I was a little child at that time,” Soodmand said.

He is pleased that relative peace has prevailed in the country and said that students could learn better in a peaceful environment.

He hopes that the roots of war and conflicts in Afghanistan will dry up forever and that no one will lose their loved ones and no mother will mourn the deaths of her children.

All Afghans should work together for eliminating violence and strengthening peace in the country so the flames of war are completely extinguished on this land , he said.

“I and everyone hate the name of war, if there is no war, everyone is happy with their lives, we should all live peacefully as a family. Living under the shadow of war and violence is worse than hell,” the teacher added.

“It is because of war that our people have no good life today, now our country is safe but the US has frozen our money, our people are now suffering from poverty,” Soodmand added.

He called on the government to work for improving the country’s economic situation; prioritize economic programs and pay special attention to the education of boys and girls.

mds/ma