GARDEZ (Pajhwok): Government high schools in southeastern Paktia province still lack computers and students are yet to practically learn their use.
High school students say computer skills and English language are major demand of today’s markets and the ministry concerned should facilitate students in this regard.
Esmat Samim, a student of Babrak Khan Zadran High School in Paktia, told Pajhwok Afghan News that he was graduating this year, but he did not receive education about computer. He learned how to use the internet and computer outside of his school.
“I don’t think there would be a school in the whole of Paktia where a computer lab exists. I completed my 12 years of education and I will graduate this year but we did not see the computer’s screen in our school,” he said.
Zahidullah, a grade 11th student in Baghshah High School in Gardez city, the provincial capital, said computer was important for performing tasks in short time. He said computer lab should be available in every school of the city.
“All people need to learn computer and English language, but unfortunately our schools lack such facilities,” he said.
Esmatullah Taskin, a student of 10 grade in Ahmadabad High School, said that private schools offered computer education, text books and other essential services to students — a reason most of people sent their children to private schools.
“Computer skills and English language are essential in this modern age, but we do not have access to these things, we only study them in books not use them in practical,” he added.
Madina, a student in Shashgar High School in Gardiz city, said that the lack of textbooks, professional teachers and computer and science tools were their main problems.
“The shortage of textbooks, school buildings, surrounding walls and professional teachers are problems that are crippling the education sector, the officials concerned should pay attention,” she said.
Hajira, another student in the school, also said they had no computer and English teaching facilities. She said boys could learn computer and English language privately in the city, but girls could not do that.
She asked the Ministry of Education and other relevant organs to provide computer and English language education in schools, particularly in girls schools.
Asadullah Zazai, head of Gardez Lankan Educational Center in Gardez city, said that many boys and girls were learning computer and internet in their center.
He said they provided English language, computer and internet education facilities for both boys and girls and special classes for female students.
“We have a female teacher for girls, we are progressing but we need more time, we can teach 70 girls in a single course but unfortunately cultural restrictions and some security problems prevent girls from going to educational centers,” he said.
Paktia education director Kuchai Zazai acknowledged schools lacked computer labs for practical education in the province but said the problem would be solved once the province was extended the imported electricity.
He said Paktia schools also lacked labs for science subjects such as biology and chemistry and students seriously needed them.
“Computer could not be learned in theory, students need practical lessons, fortunately the imported electricity is coming to Paktia, we would try to provide computer labs in schools,” he said.
Few days back, Education Minister Mirwais Balkhi during his visit to Paktia said that the education process in the province was weak and inadequate. He had said that the ministry had started work on improving the quality of education in the country.
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