Ghazni schools reopen after 9 years

GHAZNI CITY (PAN): Officials in southern Ghazni province on Wednesday reopened four schools that had been closed nine years ago due to clashes between security forces and insurgents.

The schools resumed functioning in Ghazni City, the provincial capital, currently serving as the Asian Capital of Islamic Civilisation, Maqur, Khwaja Omari and Rashidan districts.

Education Zahoor Ahmad said schools in the Asfandi area of Ghazni City, Maqur and in Khwaja Omari were for girls and that in Rashidan for boys. He lauded cooperation from area elders.

He recalled hundreds of students would come to these schools before they were shut down nine years ago. Zahoor said the Taliban had not closed the schools, the closure came as a result of insecurity.

Asfandi residents welcomed the development, but feared it could reserve as security threats remained.

Resident Jamshid said girls would restart attending their classes if fears about possible clashes between security forces and militants shed. Dwellers of Rashidan town demanded the reopening of all closed schools and education facilities.

One of them was Mohammad Sharif, who claimed reopened schools lacked professional teaching staff, text books and teaching materials in Rashidan. Ghazni has 650 schools and 30 of them have been shut due to security concerns.

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