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In Afghanistan, a teacher's
vision for education
KABUL (PAN): "I wish to see the day Afghan students have buildings for their schools,
equipped with modern facilities," says Zahir Shah, a 60 years old teacher.
Hailing from the Istalif area of Kabul province, he has been in the profession for 43
year. Currently, he teaches literature at the Char Qala-i-Wazirabad High School in
Kabul.
As the World Teachers' Day was marked on October 5, he taught his students under a
tent, saying the learning-teaching process was ineffective in such an environment.
"If the present situation persists, the quality of education in Afghanistan would
become more dismal," the schoolteacher warned in an interview with Pajhwok Afghan
News.
Alongside constructing new buildings for schools, the Ministry of Education should not
lose sight of improving laboratories and providing the latest teaching tools, he
suggested.
Presently, 50 percent of schools across the country are operating under tents and a
large number of teachers are untrained, say education department officials.
Zahir Shah has taught thousands of students, including engineers, doctors and
journalists, during his career. "Having four children, I treat students as my sons and
pay special attention to them."
Unlike in the past, some students do not respect their teachers, refuse to heed their
advice and tend to become violent at times, he regretted.
There have been incidents of girls injuring their teachers with knives and
knuckledusters, noted Shah, citing decades of war and lack of parental advice for the
violent behaviour.
Shocked by the ongoing wave of insecurity in the country, he said: "One of my sweet
memories is the education ministry's announcement that it will distribute plots to
teachers."
Optimistic that none of his fraternity members would remain homeless, Shah is still
living in a rented house in the Char Qala-i-Wazirabad area.
Over the past decade, the education ministry has worked hard to better teachers'
living conditions by raising their salaries, he acknowledged. However, he called for
more concrete steps to promote the cause of education.
Since 2009, 134,000 teachers have benefitted from the payroll system. Another 56
will be included in the programme. Before the implementation of the programme, a
teacher's baseline salary was $65.47 (3,000 afs) and highest $24.94 (6,000 afs).
But now the pay has gone up to $35.36 and $416.49 respectively. As many as 50,000
teachers have been given plots over the past 10 years.
In Afghanistan, a teacher's vision for education | Pajhwok Afghan News
vision for education
KABUL (PAN): "I wish to see the day Afghan students have buildings for their schools,
equipped with modern facilities," says Zahir Shah, a 60 years old teacher.
Hailing from the Istalif area of Kabul province, he has been in the profession for 43
year. Currently, he teaches literature at the Char Qala-i-Wazirabad High School in
Kabul.
As the World Teachers' Day was marked on October 5, he taught his students under a
tent, saying the learning-teaching process was ineffective in such an environment.
"If the present situation persists, the quality of education in Afghanistan would
become more dismal," the schoolteacher warned in an interview with Pajhwok Afghan
News.
Alongside constructing new buildings for schools, the Ministry of Education should not
lose sight of improving laboratories and providing the latest teaching tools, he
suggested.
Presently, 50 percent of schools across the country are operating under tents and a
large number of teachers are untrained, say education department officials.
Zahir Shah has taught thousands of students, including engineers, doctors and
journalists, during his career. "Having four children, I treat students as my sons and
pay special attention to them."
Unlike in the past, some students do not respect their teachers, refuse to heed their
advice and tend to become violent at times, he regretted.
There have been incidents of girls injuring their teachers with knives and
knuckledusters, noted Shah, citing decades of war and lack of parental advice for the
violent behaviour.
Shocked by the ongoing wave of insecurity in the country, he said: "One of my sweet
memories is the education ministry's announcement that it will distribute plots to
teachers."
Optimistic that none of his fraternity members would remain homeless, Shah is still
living in a rented house in the Char Qala-i-Wazirabad area.
Over the past decade, the education ministry has worked hard to better teachers'
living conditions by raising their salaries, he acknowledged. However, he called for
more concrete steps to promote the cause of education.
Since 2009, 134,000 teachers have benefitted from the payroll system. Another 56
will be included in the programme. Before the implementation of the programme, a
teacher's baseline salary was $65.47 (3,000 afs) and highest $24.94 (6,000 afs).
But now the pay has gone up to $35.36 and $416.49 respectively. As many as 50,000
teachers have been given plots over the past 10 years.
In Afghanistan, a teacher's vision for education | Pajhwok Afghan News