Afghanistan does not need foreign professionals: Official

KHOST CITY (Pajhwok): Afghanistan has enough well-learned and professional people in every field and there is no need to invite professionals from other countries, an official said on Thursday.

Qari Mohammad Younas Rashid, deputy minister of youth affairs at the Ministry of Information and Culture, said this while addressing a gathering in Nader Shahkot district of southeastern Khost province.

The gathering was held to launch a free learning course for students from grade one to 12.

Rashid said there were thousands of young people holding master’s, doctorate and bachelor’s degrees in Afghanistan and the current caretaker government did not need to invite professionals from other countries.

He was apparently referring to Pakistani officials who had some time ago offered the Islamic Emirate to provide professionals to run ministries if needed.

Rashid said equipping the new generation with education was necessary for the protection of the existing system and further development.

“Instead of Pakistani and Turkish engineers, we should have our own engineers to build our roads and should have universities in the country with doctorate programs instead of sending students on scholarships abroad.”

Hundreds of students have been enrolled in the free course in Zanzikhel area of Nader Shahkot district. Currently being run under the Ministry of Education, the free course involves volunteer youths of the area.

The head of the course, Qanonuddin Adil, told Pajhwok Afghan News that 750 students from the first to twelfth grade received free education in the course.

“In this course, we have 11 university graduate teachers and they are teaching the students voluntarily to embellish illiterate people with the jewel of education.”

One of the students of the course, Akbarullah, said the course was free and he could not study in the city due to economic problems.

Information and Culture director Shabir Ahmad Osmani on the occasion assured the officials and students of providing them with all kinds of facilities.

He also urged the youth and elders of other areas of the province to arrange such educational course and educate the new generation.

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