21 Panjsher schools still used for military purposes

PARAKH (Pajhwok): The number of school buildings being used for military purposes in central Panjsher province has decreased from 35 to 21, the provincial Education Department said on Thursday.

These schools have been operating in open spaces or in residential houses. Residents and teachers of these schools want the armed forces to vacate the buildings.

MawlawiGhulamEshan Hamas, Panjsher Education Department head, told Pajhwok Afghan News there were 30 to 35 school buildings where armed forces of the Islamic Emirate were residing because they had no other place to live.

“In this regard, we have talked to provincial officials and officials of other relevant organs. Currently the number of school buildings where armed forces are stationed has decreased to 21”, Hamas said.

He said schools where armed men were deployed were operating in other buildings. He said efforts were underway to vacate such buildings and as promised, security forces would not be present in any school until next year.

Teachers and students complain about the situation. Abdul Ghaffar, the principal of Piawasht girls’ high school in Rukha district, said armed forces were stationed in their school building.

“Because of not having any other option, we continued the classes in another dark house. We approached the provincial officials, but our voices went unheard,” Abdul Gahffar added.

Zainab, a fifth grade student, said armed forces had occupied their school. She asked the government to shift the armed forces to another location and allow the girls to attend their lessons.

A teacher of a boys’ school in the same area made similar claim. He said armed forces had been stationed in their school since the beginning of the current year. “We knocked at different doors, but the matter remains unsolved”, he said.

“However, we continued teaching the students in a mosque, but it was not spacious”.

Ramin, a student of this school, urged the government to remove armed forces from their school to enable students to continue their education.

aw/ma