Ghazni schools without buildings, books

GHAZNI CITY (Pajhwok): More than half of schools in southern Ghazni are without buildings and students are faced with a shortage of textbooks, an official said on Thursday.

The Ministry of Education (MoE) had been informed about the problems faced by the sector, Ghazni Education Director Mohammad Abid Abid told Pajhwok Afghan News.

But the MoE spokesman Kabir Haqmal said the ministry had the authority to build 1,000 schools every year and efforts were on to resolve the problems of the education sector in the province.

The Andar district education officer acknowledged that 50 percent schools were without proper buildings while many others stationery and related materials such as textbooks.

He said around 47 schools were functioning in the district where 28,000 students were being imparted educations. A school building, formerly used by the Taliban as a training centre, was on the verge of collapse.

Ghulam Dastagir, headmaster of the school, told Pajhwok Afghan News the facility was facing a number of problems such as shortage of qualified teachers and other materials.

He said Taliban had been visiting the school frequently and stressing upon teaching of religious books. Parents of students were poor and could not afford to buy stationery for their kids, he noted.

Mohammad Khan, a student of fifth class, said: “During rainy days, the students do not attend the school because of the building poor and dilapidated condition.”

Taliban Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said his men had formed a commission to observe curriculum of schools and other related affairs.

Estimate shows around 40% schools are without buildings throughout the country.

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