PUL-I-KHUMRI (SW): Fate of hundreds of students in Baghlan province hangs in limbo as up to 28 schools in the province might not resume studies in the forthcoming academic year.
Provincial authorities have said it is not certain if schools in Dand-i-Ghori and central Baghlan districts would open for spring classes. Ghulam Muhaudin Paikan Haidary, director of provincial directorate of education, said continuous fighting and instability in these two districts have made it difficult to resume studies. “These 28 schools are in Dand-i-Ghori and central Baghlan districts where some residents also oppose sending their girls to schools”, said Paikan Haidary.
The provincial director for education further said there are 250 schools without any proper buildings in the province, and 180 schools do not have proper boundary walls, resulting in 2600 students studying in open air.
The provincial authorities have urged upon the warring sides not to use schools, students and educators as human shields. The authorities also called upon the government and aid agencies to pay attention to their problems.
There are at least 551 public and private schools functioning in the province with 315 thousand students enrolled.
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