Independent observers report an increase in the number of closed schools across the country.
Qalam Lar or ‘the way of the pen’, which has been gathering information on the status of schools, says some 1,300 schools shut last year. This figure was 700 the previous year.
The authorities in the Ministry of Education say there are schools that do not open in provinces like Ghazni, Helmand, Rozgan, Kandahar and Zabul. The problem is chiefly the result of war, and if it is not addressed the system of education could be irretrievably damaged.
Sometimes schools are targeted by anti-government forces; sometimes they are taken over by the government to billet soldiers.
Mujib Mehrdad, spokesperson for the education ministry, admits the number of schools facing closure is increasing day by day. “Schools are mostly closed in the southern provinces,” he adds. Mehrdad calls upon the government and security forces to take immediate action.
Afghan security forces have plans to open closed schools in all provinces. Mohammad Radmanesh, deputy spokesperson in the Ministry of Defence says, “The opening of the doors of education is important (a victory in the fight against opponents of the government).”
Nangarhar
Roughly 60 of the 1,300 closed schools are from this province. Most are located in the four insecure districts of Haska Maena, Koot, Achin and Pacheeragam. The new academic year started on Sep 6.
Abuzahed, teaching assistant at the Nangarhar education department, says the schools shut out of fear of anti-government groups. “Some 120,000 students are deprived of schooling or their families have moved to more secure areas so they can go to school,” he says.
Kandahar
Some 139 schools are closed in the province. Unlike Nangarhar they are shut because of infrastructural problems. It could be anything from lack of staff to stationary and text books. Mohammad Ewaz Nazari, teaching assistant in the provincial education department says, “Many of the schools have neither teachers nor administrative staff.”
Minister for Education Asadullah Hanif Balkhi has promised to solve the problems of schooling in the province. Some of the closed schools have reopened. Nazari thinks that if the ministry were to hire 3,000 people “all closed schools could reopen in order to ensure children have the right to education.”
Helmand
Education is in crisis in the province chiefly as a result of administrative corruption. The doors of pedagogy are closed to Helmand’s children. Provincial Governor Hayatullah Hayat blames the closure of some 152 schools on the “deficient” provincial education department. “The education department is deficient as a result of administration corruption. Illegal appointments and numerous other problems have damaged it badly,” he says.
Helmand has a total of some 395 schools. The governor would like to see all schools remain open.
Ghor
The government has no idea of the situation on the ground since officials who are in-charge of monitoring school activities are not able to travel to insecure parts of the province. Roughly 170 schools are out of bounds for government officials; transfer of salaries to teachers and administrative staff is delayed.
Fazalhaq Nejatoen in the Ghor education department admits it is impossible to monitor schools in conflict areas. “We have no information on areas such as Ferozkoh, Murghab and Showej. Education department officials cannot travel to schools in these areas because of the risky security situation,” he says.
Paktika
Officials have been trying to reopen all schools in the province with the help of local elders for the last several years. Tribal leaders of Paktika’s nine districts have decided not to leave the lights of wisdom off. Dogar, a tribal leader in the Katawaz area, says people are prepared to do anything to ensure closed schools would reopen including “eating dried bread instead of soup”. They are not willing to allow their children to be deprived of education.
“We request his Excellency, the Governor, to create facilities for our children. They should be able to compete with the best, not sit back because they did not have an opportunity. This country cannot be built without education and knowledge,” says Dogar.
Time for the “competition of sword” (factional fighting) is over and it is the “competition of pen” now, he adds.
Governor of Paktika Mohammad Elyas Wahdat has promised to improve security and launch rehabilitation projects to solve the problems of people. He has urged tribal leaders to persuade anti-government forces to stop killing Afghans and join the peace process.
In the governor’s words: “Closed schools are a scar on the face of Paktika. You (the public) must go to the front and tell those who close the schools that killing is not only with guns but we remain in darkness because of you (Taleban).”
Logar
Efforts to reopen schools have proved fruitful in the province. The authorities in the provincial education department say they have been able to open the doors of eight schools to students in the district of Mohammad Agha with the assistance of local people.
Shahpoor Arab, spokesperson for the education department in Logar, says that “armed opponents” had tried to shut down the schools for ever. However, according to Arab, “armed opponents were able to close the doors of the schools only for one day.”
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