PAKTIA (SW): A number of families in the central and other districts of Paktia consider shame for themselves that their young girls go to school and for this purpose they are preventing them from going to school in their childhood and adolescence.
Some girl-students from Girls High School in Gardez, center of Paktia told Salam Watandar that a number of girls in remote areas of this province after the 9th and 10th grades sit at home and become busy with house chores.
Zarlasht, one of the students said that most of the girls in this province go to school until grade 10 and after that their families prevent them from going to school.
Noshaba Zazi, another student said; “It was a problem in the past as well, but now it’s been better, and currently girls are prevented from going to school after grades ninth and tenth”.
Mahera Ahmadzai, one of the women’s rights activists in Paktia, said the lack of female teachers in the province has prevented the girls from continuing their education. “Families believe that if their young daughters go to school, people will laugh at them”, she said.
Officials from Education Department of Paktia said that barriers to girl’s education in the province have improved in comparison to the past.
According to them, about 60 thousand girls are currently enrolled in schools in this province.
Kuchi Zazi, director of education department of Paktia told Salam Watandar that 200 female teachers were hired this year to solve the problem.
It should be noted that because of the bad customs and traditions, distance of school from their villages, and lack of security have caused most of the girls not to attend schools.
ENDS
