New girls schools are being built in Khoshi District
PRESS RELEASE
May 4, 2009, Pol-e Alam, Afghanistan – More than 400 girls from Khoshi
District will learn in two new schools, which are being built in Hassani Basri and Khuja Laghai villages.
Education in Afghanistan has been affected by the Soviet occupation, as well by the rule of the Taleban. Until the middle of the nineties, there were only some 650 schools in the whole country. During Taleban rule, girls were forced to stay at home, and boys‘ education was possible only in religious schools – madrasas.
Nowadays, children often have to study in tents or rooms without heating and windows. Therefore most of the schools are closed during the entire winter.
The Czech PRT in Logar started construction of two new girl schools in Khoshi at the end of April. Cooperation among the provincial government, local community, and the PRT played a key role in the preparation of this project.
„Every human being has the right to study. That’s why all my daughters will go to the new school,“ local Khair Muhammad said. „Everyone in Khushi was involved in the discussions about the project and it was approved by our shura. If the school gets attacked by Taleban, we can protect it,“ he said.
The PRT focuses mainly on the reconstruction of already existing schools, where enough teachers and children are guaranteed. „But in Khoshi, the local community and provincial ministry of education agreed on new schools, because local girls had to learn in private houses and mosques before,“ Michal Navrátil, PRT's civil engineer, said.
The Czech PRT, consisting of nine civilian experts and 275 soldiers, has been assisting the people of Logar since March 2008. Support of the health system, infrastructure, security, agriculture, irrigation and independent journalism are also among its priorities. Its annual budget is 4.5 million USD.