Jubilation at reopening of girls’ schools in Paktia

KABUL (Pajhwok): People have expressed happiness over the reopening of girls’ schools above sixth grade in southeastern Paktia province, urging the government to let females return to classes all across the country.

Since March, girls’ schools above sixth grade have been closed and the Ministry of Education has said it is working on a plan in this regard.

On Monday, Paktia Director of Information and Culture Khalilqyar Ahmadzai confirmed to Pajhwok Afghan News girls’ schools had been open over the past several days in the province.

According to him, the schools had been reopened in response to frequent requests from people and principals.

A Pajhwok Facebook post on the reopening of girls’ schools in Paktia has been liked by 13,000 users — 655 people shared it and 852 others commented on it and welcomed the move as glad tidings.

Most of Facebook users, who commented on the post, hailed the reopening of girls’ schools. But many others expressed their concerns over the closure of girls’ schools in the country.

Comments

Omar Khan welcomed the reopening of girls’ schools and commented: “Good news, may Allah enlighten all our countrymen, male and female, with Islamic and modern knowledge.”

Pardes Afghan wrote: “Very good, the gates of schools should be opened all over Afghanistan. Education is the right of all girls – a right given by Islam.”

Usman Ghani called the reopening of girls’ school a good step. He said: “Special thanks to the people of Paktia for reopening gates to knowledge. We need knowledge more than water and food because countries are built on the basis of knowledge.”

Sayed Samiullah Hakimi wrote: “The best thing is reopening of schools for girls. This is a very necessary step that should have been taken much earlier.”

He asked the government to open schools for girls all over the country without further delay.

Mohammad Himmat Stanikzai wrote: “The schools must reopen anyway, but I’m upset because one year has been wasted and our sisters deprived of education.”

Wakil Ahmad Popal remarked: “This is not enough. Schools must be kept open across the country. People’s demands and needs must be respected.”

Zabihullah Mujahid, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) spokesman, said on Tuesday it was not yet known on whose orders and under what conditions girls’ schools above sixth grade had been reopened in Paktia province.

sa/mud

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