Disabled Zahra committed to get education, become physician

NEILLI (Pajhwok): In a far-flung mountainous region of Miramour district in central Daikundi province where basic education facilities did not exist, Abdullah takes his disabled daughter to school on his shoulders and bring her back home.

Abdullah said his daughter Zahra disabled from legs was interested in education and this factor forced him to take her on shoulders to school. Zahra’s mother and grandmother helped Abdullah in taking her to school 1.5 kilometers daily.

This family lives in the Sarqul Nadak area of Miramour district a place where its residents are deprived of social services, including education.

Zahra, whose tongue also slips, said: “I cannot go to school, my father takes me if he has not time then my grandmother takes me on her shoulder to the school.”

She hoped that like other students one day she will be able to go to school by her own feet.

Zahra’s father told Pajhwok Afghan News that due to her daughter’s greater interest with education he took her to school daily on his shoulders and bring her back from the school.

Abdullah said: “She is fond of education, if I take her late to the school then she became unhappy and cry and make us disappointed as well. We are also interested to see our daughter stand on her feet in the future.”

He is the bread earner for nine-member family and said due to her school, he was unable to go for work outside because his wife leg had broken and his elder mother was unable to take Zahra to school alone.

He said Zahra was born disabled and her two legs are not functioning.

He was worried about the future of his daughter and said: “My daughter is interested in the medical but sometimes she complained to her friends that she is disabled and will not be able to become a doctor but we give her support and assurances that her legs will start functioning and she will be able to become a doctor.”

Abdullah is worried about the future of his daughter and said: “Until when I will be here for her, right now I cannot do anything, I take her to the school and bring her back and have no work.”

He asked the government to provide education and medical facilities for her daughter so that she would be able to achieve here goals.

Qadir Mohsani, head of the local council, also said that since a local school had been established, Zahra’s father or her grandmother daily bring her to the school.

He said the economic condition of Zahra’s family was not good and they were unable to provide treatment to her daughter.

He said: “In the past there was no school and recently RRSWO and Agha Khan Organisation established schools where some students are able to study until class third.”

He noted that the residents of the area were deprived of education service and a large number of boys and girls were deprived of education facility.

He asked the government to support NGOs in the development of school infrastructure and establishment of more classes.

Hussain Wasiq, Education director of Miramour district, said the Zahra’s story force them to see the area and this family closely.

He said in order to encourage these students stationary and other supporting items till class sixth had been distributed to them.

He acknowledged shortcomings in the areas of education in this area and said they were able to create local classes in coordination with some NGOs.

Wasiq said that Zahra was blessed with extra ordinary talent despite being disabled and she has higher grade in her class.

He also acknowledged that Zahra’s family was hit by poverty and Abdullah also give time to the education of her daughter.

He added during district meetings he had spoken about Abdullah’s family and hoped to generate support for him.

Naik Mohammad Hamidi, a civil society activist, said that education was vital for the development of a country.

He said that Zahra’s family was a greater example for others.

He asked the government to provide education facilities for disabled persons and people like Zahra.

Ghulam Yahya  Akbari, teacher trainer at ARSO Organisation, said that they created 354 local classes in Daikundi province for students who have no access to main stream education facilities.

He added of the total classes 45 were created in Miramour district.

He said the Sarqul Nadak locality is also one of the areas which is deprived of education facilities and have nine kilometer of distance with the education facilities.

He dubbed Zahra a talented student and said efforts were on to introduce such students to mainstream education.

ARSO Organisation works in the area of education development in Daikundi and supported by the UNICEF.

Mountainous terrain of Daikundi province made it difficult for its residents to have easy access to schools.

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