The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), with financial support from Japan, has constructed new buildings for two schools in Helmand at a cost of 48 million Afghanis. Officials say the new facilities have a capacity for 3,200 students.
Ehsanullah Elham, spokesperson for the Helmand Education Department, said: “These two buildings, valued at 48 million Afghanis, have been inaugurated in Bast-e-Kala urban area and include teacher blocks, drinking water, classrooms, administrative offices, laboratories, and other necessary facilities.”
School principal Latifullah Soltani added: “With the construction of these buildings, many of our problems have been resolved. Previously, our students studied in tents or by the roadside. Due to noise from vehicles, neither the students could hear my voice nor I theirs during lessons. Now they study in classrooms, and all these issues have been solved.”
Teachers and students expressed happiness about the new buildings. Previously, students had to endure harsh cold in winter and extreme heat in summer, which caused low attendance. With the new facilities, student enrollment has increased.
Teacher Mohammad Dawood emphasized the need for more teachers and teaching materials: “We need timely delivery of textbooks and teaching materials. We also lack laboratory equipment.”
Student Suhail Ahmad said: “We are now comfortable in the classrooms, but we still do not have enough books and notebooks.”
Local residents see the construction of school buildings as a step toward education and development and are calling for more modern school buildings in the area.
Resident Abdul Haq Haqmal said: “We are very happy that school buildings have been constructed. Previously, our children faced severe difficulties in cold and hot weather. We request that similar modern buildings be built for other schools as well.”
According to the Education Department, in addition to these two schools, 22 new school buildings have been constructed this year in Helmand’s northern and southern districts.
