28 Panjwai schools stay shut: official

KANDAHAR CITY (PAN): Closed as a result of insecurity, a school was reopened on Monday in the Panjwai district of southern Kandahar province, taking the number of operational schools to 15 in the volatile town, an official said.

The Fazl Din Agha School in the Zalkhan area, the 9th to be reopened in Panjwai this academic year, had been closed four years ago, said Education Director Gul Agha Safi, who lamented nearly 28 schools remained shut in the militancy-plagued town.

He said Panjwai had 42 public sector schools, but only 15 of them were open. He  promised continued efforts in cooperation with residents to make operational all closed schools until next academic year.

Panjwai administrative chief Fazal Mohammad Ishaqzai said that public demand for education facilities had increased because security in the district had improved.

He said another closed school would be reopened soon, but did not elaborate.

The district chief urged residents to cooperate with security forces in keeping security for schools in their areas. He said tribal elders were ready to offer their lands for building schools to the government and keeping their security.

However, a resident of Zangabad area, Haji Mohammad Noor, said children fearing roadside bomb blasts and other security related problems opted to stay home. He said residents were enthusiastic to send their kids to schools if security concerns were removed.

The elder also complained about problems like unavailability of text books, unprofessional teachers and lack of other facilities at recently reopened schools.

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