Education improves in insecure Kapisa towns

MAHMOOD RAQI (Pajhwok): Most of the problems facing the education sector in militancy-hit districts of central Kapisa province have been resolved for the first time during the past 12 years, teachers and students say.

Mohammad Abbas, a student of seventh class, told Pajhwok Afghan News that Tagab, Alasai and Nijrab were the most insecure districts where education was in extremely poor condition.

During clashes between militants and security forces, students could not attend school and most of the infrastructure of educational institutions was damaged as a result.

However, Abbas lauded the education department for its serious efforts in resolving problems of the sector throughout the province.

With the start of new academic year, students did not face serious issues at schools, he said, adding the provincial government had resolved their problems.

Zubair, a teacher and resident of Alasai districts, said authorities had discharged greater responsibility by giving financial aid to the families of those who lost their near and dear ones in violence.

Hewad, a student and resident of Tagab district, said he lost his classmate due to unprovoked shelling by Afghan National Army (ANA). The issue of the school student’s killing was discussed with the security forces and they responded positively, he added.

“President Hamid Karzai also took notice of the killing of a teenage student and talked to his parents on the telephone,” he added.

Haji Lutf-ur-Rahman, a tribal elder of Nijrab district, commended the efforts of provincial education department by saying that authorities had helped minimized the scale of problems of the education sector.

Work to construct buildings for a number of schools in the province was underway, he said, adding: “I am a teacher, a student and a strong defender of education. I will not allow anyone to create hurdles in promotion of education.”

Reports regarding improvement in Kapisa education sector surfaced at a time when education sector in the country’s south and eastern provinces facing daunting challenges.

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