PUL-I-ALAM (SW): Ragging violence and outdated norms have confined majority of girls in Logar province to drop out of schools even before graduating high schools.
A number of female students told Salam Watandar that they are faced with additional threats in their pursuit of education. It was mentioned that many girls are forced to drop out while a number of girls’ high schools are closed down owing to threats.
Bibi Ruqaya, a resident of Pul-i-Alam, said even the family members of many Logari girls do not allow the girls to purse higher education. Malalai, another resident of the province, said that the long distance to schools have also contributed to the dropout rate of girls. She stressed upon the need to establish more and more girls’ schools, particularly in far away areas of the province.
These students also urged the directorate of women affairs to play its role in promoting girls’ education.
Shema Zargar, director for women affairs in the province, said in this regard that poverty, insecurity and family pressure have compelled majority of girls to dropout in the seventh grade of school. She added that many schools get out of capacity due to high rate of girls’ enrolment in the early grades but with higher classes, the dropout rate comes into effect and leaves only a small number of girls who eventually graduate.
She mentioned that the local civil society is busy convincing the parents and the society as a whole to promote girls’ education.
The provincial directorate of education has sought the help of local elders and religious leaders in this regard. Saleem Saleh, spokesman for the provincial governor, told Salam Watandar that all in all 25 schools in the province were closed down due to the threats from the armed rebels but all have been reopened.
Lying south east of the capital Kabul, Logar has 365 registered public schools where up to 140, 000 students are enrolled, 30, 000 of whom are girls.
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