KANDAHAR CITY (SW): Only two schools are functional for a whole district in Kandahar province that has more than 700 villages comprising of thousands of residents.
Elders in the Shah Wali Kot district told Salam Watandar 15 out of the 17 schools in the district remain closed due to ragging insecurity. District council members and elders said militancy and drug trafficking have led to the closure of schools. They blamed the government for not doing enough to ensure safety of the residents.
Zahir Jan, a district council member, said Shah Wali Kot has at least 720 small and big villages, and just 2 schools are not enough for the population. He feared if peace and security are not ensured the remaining two schools will also close down.
Gulbudin Biya, another district council member, said the Taliban are smuggling opium produced in Helmand via Uruzgan-Kandahar highway, crossing through the district, which has resulted in high insecurity.
Nazar Mohammad Samimi, spokesperson for directorate of education, has confirmed the issue. He said out of 17 schools and 1 madrasa (religious school), only 1 primary and one high school remain open for at least 700 students.
The Shah Wali Kot district is a mountainous district on the edge of Zabul and Uruzgan provinces. It has a population of at least 44282 people.
