Lack of textbooks affecting our studies: Helmand students

LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): Some of high school students in southern Helmand province complain about the shortage of textbooks and ask the government to pay attention to this issue.

However, education officials say they have shared the issue of textbooks shortage with the relevant ministry and efforts are underway to solve this issue.

Provincial education department official admit the books’ shortage issue, but say Helmand province has received 715,046 textbooks and attempts are underway to get more textbooks from the Ministry of Education (MoE).

Niamatullah, a student of Shaheed Engineer Abdul Matin High School, told Pajhwok Afghan News: “Majority of the students in our school are from poor families, they cannot afford to buy books from the market, the shortage of textbook has a negative effect on learning process”.

He urged the government, especially the MoE, to solve the issue of textbooks shortage in Helmand province.

Javed Ahmad, another student of the same school said, having enough textbooks was important and lack of enough books meant incomplete knowledge.

Javed added: “The issue of textbooks shortage is normal in our school, we are not offered enough books, we want the MoE to give us books of all subjects”.

Fazl Mohammad, a student of Kamp Area school of Marja district, said besides lack of textbooks, there school faced shortage of teachers as well.

He urged the MoE to provide students with textbooks because it was affecting their learning process.

Mohammad Ismael Saadat, Deputy Director of the provincial Education Department, confirmed the books shortage issue and said they had the same issue last year when all schools of Helmand were provided only 715,046 books.

“We still face the issue of textbooks shortage, we have shared this issue with the MoE and hope it will be addressed soon”, Saadat said.

He added: “The the issue of textbooks shortage in Helmand occurred as four more new administrative units (districts) were created in the province during the current year, such as Baghni, Baba Ji, Nahr-i-Siraj and Bahramcha. We managed to get some books for the newly established districts. As the new educational year begins, we will distribute these books as well”.

Helmand was an insecure province during the past two decades and the continuous wars had a negative impact on several sectors including education.

aw/ma

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