Shortage of trained teachers, textbooks worries students

GHAZNI CITY (Pajhwok): School students in southern Ghazni province say they are facing lack of professional teachers and textbooks — an issue affecting the education system.

Sharafuddin, a student from Ghazni City, told Pajhwok Afghan News their school remained open but the shortage of textbooks and professional teachers created problems for them.

“Our teachers of Chemistry and Physics are not professional. Any student who graduates from the 12^th grade cannot solve even an easy equation because of the lack of professional teachers.”

He urged the officials concerned to address the problems with a sense of urgency.

Asadullah, a student of 11^th grade, called the shortage of textbooks and professional teachers for some core subjects the major problem.

Maulvi Zahoor Ahmad Asif, principal of Shamsul Arifeen High School, confirmed schools in the districts and the provincial capital lacked professional teachers and textbooks.

He claimed most of the schools were reliant on contractual teachers and students obviously could not acquire standard education.

“Every year, hundreds of youth graduate from universities, but still professional teachers cannot be found. The government must hire professional teachers, provide textbooks and a proper environment for learning,” he stressed.

Asif urged the Education Department to afford opportunities to youth holding bachelor’s degrees.

Maulvi Mohammad Omar Wasiq, an education official, said they had devised plans for the improvement of teachers’ capacity and availability of textbooks.

He said the problems hampered the education process not only in Ghazni, but in other provinces as well.

The official added about 762 public and private schools in Ghazni had been registered with the Ministry of Education. Of them, 666 are public and 96 private schools. About 71 are girls’ schools.

At least 400,000 students enrolled in these schools are being taught by 9,000 teachers, he explained.

sa/mud

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