183 Paktia schools sans buildings: Mawlavi Farooqi

GARDEZ (Pajhwok): Over 180 schools in southeastern Paktia province have been without buildings and the students of these schools study in open places, an official said on Wednesday.

Education Director Mawlavi Abdul Qayyoum Farooqi told Pajhwok Afghan News they faced challenges due to the non-availability of school buildings.

He said of a total of 371 schools in Gardez, the provincial capital, and districts 183 have been without buildings that forced thousands of students to study in the open air.

He said the construction of 26 school buildings started in the past government remained incomplete while some school buildings needed reconstruction.

Mawlavi Farooqi said that UNICEF pledged the construction of buildings for 18 schools this year.

Meanwhile, some students and teachers have complained due to the non-availability of buildings they faced problems.

Khalid, one of the Bagh Shah School students, said their school is without building and they faced problems.

“There is no building, we study in harsh winter and strong head,” he said.

Mawlavi Ahmad Sadiq, one of the teachers, said their school is without building and teacher and students faced problem.

He asked officials of the Education Department to construct building for schools so that the education process continues smoothly.

According to the Education Department, currently 200,000, including

50,000 girls, students attend schools in Paktia province.

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