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Logar youth paves way for 700 children to get free education

Logar youth paves way for 700 children to get free education

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5 Apr 2023 - 18:38
Logar youth paves way for 700 children to get free education
author avatar
5 Apr 2023 - 18:38

PUL-I-ALAM (Pajhwok): A young man has paved the way for about 700 boys and girls to get free education in two remote and backward areas of Pul-i-Alam, the capital of central Logar province.

Badly affected by the past conflict, the two areas namely Gheratabad and Bedak lag behind in every sphere of life, including education. However, a young man has now been trying to spread the light of knowledge.

The 35-year-old Mohammad Akbar Atal, a resident of Abachkan area of Pul-i-Alam has opened two educational centers in the two areas and has enrolled 700 children including 150 girls to get free education.

Atal told Pajhwok he along with his like-minded friends started efforts to provide free education to the children in the impoverished and backward areas and enable them to read and write.

He said the idea was based on a feeling that only education could salvage the people and the country from misfortunes and bring about positive change.

As a first step, Atal built two education centers in the war-ravaged Gheratabad and Bedak areas about two years ago and now 550 boys and 150 girls are studying there. These children are provided free religious and modern education.

Atal said about 15 people worked with him in the education centers and they paid all the expenses, including salaries, from the income of their businesses.

Considering the two centers not enough, the young man plans to start similar activities in Mohammad Agha, Baraki Barak, Kharwar, Charkh, Khoshi and Azra districts as well.

Sher Ali, who has been teaching in the centers since past three months, told Pajhwok that most of the students included orphans and those who had been deprived of education due to poverty and past wars.

He said besides school subjects, the students were also taught English and computer lessons by professional teachers.

He said stationery was given to many students for free and warm clothes were also distributed among many students last winter.

Asadullah, a 15-year-old student, said he had been coming to the education center on bicycle from his 12 kilometers away village, Altmor, since last two months.  “This center is a good opportunity for poor students like me. Such facilities should be established in the districts as well”.

Khairullah Danish, a cultural activist, appreciated Atal’s efforts, saying his educational program would have a positive effect on the literacy of girls and boys.

He said the Department of Education should encourage businessmen like Atal to work in the field of education in the center and districts.

Danish added Logar had been severely affected by insecurity in the past years and the government and international organizations should to take fundamental steps to improve the education process in the province.

Logar Education Department spokesman Shahpur Arab told Pajhwok that Atal had established the two education centers in coordination with them, paving the way for hundreds of girls and boys in Gheratabad and Bedak areas to get free education.

He said Atal has been cooperating with the Education Department through his father’s Late Haji Mangal Ahmadzai Foundation in rehabilitating schools in Pul-i-Alam and districts and in providing clean drinking water. He said Atal had generously contributed to distribution of teaching materials to students.

Arab said residents of Logar province and businessmen should come forward and facilitate children in getting education and the Education Department would support their efforts.

Hundreds of girls and boys are being provided free education in Logar amid widespread calls for reopening of girls’ schools above sixth grade and allowing women to resume university education.

There are 275 schools open in Pul-i-Alam and districts, where 100,000 boys and 50,000 girls are being taught by 4390 teachers including 520 female teachers.

In addition, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has set up about 900 local classes for 30,000 children who were deprived of education due to the wars and lack of schools in remote areas.

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