Bamyan faces shortage of 2,400 teachers, other staff: Official

BAMYAN (Pajhwok): The Education Department of central Bamyan province says it faces a shortage of 2,400 teachers and other staff this new academic year, an issue that remains unresolved since long.

The Education Department says it needs 2100 more teachers and 300 administrative and other staff.

Bamyan education director Nazar Jafari told Pajhwok Afghan News his department faced a shortage of 2,400 teachers and other employees n the 1402 school year.

He said the problem of teachers’ shortage was an old issue that remained unaddressed despite repeated suggestions from the department to the Ministry of Education.

Jafari said so far only one primary school had been upgraded to a middle school and a middle school to a high school in the province and there had been no other changes.

About the activities and achievements of his department, he said they had provided about 70 percent of teaching materials to all students.

To improve the education situation and the quality of teaching, Jafari said, a regular monitoring plan had been devised, which would be implemented in 1402 academic year in the entire province.

He said regular meetings were being held with school principles, religious scholars and tribal elders on promoting people’s interest in education.

Sajjad Roshan, Shabartu High School principal in Bamyan City, said their school had been facing the shortage of six teachers since last three years.

He said the shortage of teachers caused irregularities in schools and led to constant absence of students from lessons and affected the quality of teaching.

He said due to the shortage of teachers in their school, students’ interest in lessons had decreased and the number of students had dropped by 15 percent.

Hassan Khawari, a professor at Bamyan University, said an improved education system was key to a society’s access to peace, progress and real development.

According to him, a good and effective education system is linked to with experts and experienced teachers because the basis of knowledge and education starts from school.

He also stressed that all teachers should be appointed on merit in order to improve the education situation.

Farishta Hussaini, a civil society activist, said: “A society’s development and stability rests with the level of knowledge of its people. The lack of education and knowledge serves as the basis for the backwardness and instability of the society.”

She insisted girls’ education was important to train future generations, literalize families and develop  a society in the future.

The Director of Education says the Minister of Education has approved 2,000 teacher posts for Bamyan province following its suggestions.

Once the posts are approved by the Council of Ministers, the issue of shortage of teachers in Bamyan will be resolved, he says.

There are 368 primary, middle and high schools in Bamyan where 149,576 students, including more than 69,000 girls are enrolled.

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