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LASHKARGAH (PAN): Students are faced with a shortage of teachers and teaching resources in the southern province of Helmand, officials said on Sunday. Dozens of schools have been closed in various areas of the province over the past few years. Fifty of them reopened recently, but problems remain. A high school in the Chanjeer area of Nad Ali district was one of the educational institutes that reopened recently. Hundreds of students are enrolled at the school. A 9th grade student, Ihsanullah, told Pajhwok Afghan News they welcomed the reopening of the school but were haunted by insecurity. "We fear attacks going to or returning from school." Students faced a shortage of teachers, books and other materials, he complained, saying their education was disrupted by several factors. Many teachers avoided coming to school due to insecurity, said a student of 7th grade, Ematullah. If the government did not respond positively to the demands of teachers and students, the education process would be scuttled, he warned. There are no professional and experienced teachers in schools, according to Principal Abdul Manan Khan, who claimed the number of students was dwindling day by day. Currently, 500 boys and 200 girls are studying at his school. Four years back the number of students stood at 1,800, he recalled. The absence of electricity is another problem haunting the students, who bring computers to school, but cannot use them. The high school was closed four years ago, when former principal, Abdul Rahim Khan, was gunned down by unidentified motorcyclists. Meanwhile, students from Garmser district said new school buildings had been constructed but teachers turned up only for an hour or so. There was also a shortage of textbooks and professional teachers, said a student, Samiullah. They had three vacant classes daily, the student griped, saying their precious time was being wasted. Textbooks have been distributed to students of lower classes. However, books for high school students are not yet available, said Deputy Director of Education Muhammad Wali Khan. He assured more textbooks would reach the province from Kabul shortly. He confirmed professional teachers were given attractive packages by NGOs. As a result, contract teachers are being hired at a number of schools. About 120 of the 315 schools are currently open in the province, where more than 100,000 students are enrolled, according to Education Department officials. myn/mud
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