In Zurmat district, 13 schools for girls stay shut

Monitoring Desk

GARDEZ: More than a dozen schools for girls closed by Taliban in the Zurmat district of southeastern Paktia province are yet to be reopened, depriving thousands of children of education, officials said.

The schools had been closed for the past four years but government officials say efforts are being made to reopen the schools.

Provincial authorities have taken up the issue with the militants. Progress in this regard, however, remains elusive.

Governor Shamim Khan Katawazi said on the sidelines of Saturday’s ceremony marking the commencement of the new academic year, they held negotiation with the Taliban through tribal leaders to ascertain reasons the closure of the schools.

Addressing the ceremony, Katawazi said tribal elders had been asked for mediation to resolve the issue. Simultaneously, the governor explained, the provincial administration was also taking steps to reopen the schools.

District educational head Abdul Rashid Usmani told Pajhwok Afghan News they had talked to the Taliban but the matter needed to be resolved at a higher level.

He added: “I have spoken to the Taliban many times in the presence of some teachers and tribal elders but they told us the issue was beyond the authority of the militants in the district. They were ordered by senior Taliban leaders to close the schools.”

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid also confirmed the schools’ closure. However, he linked the schools’closure to a shortage lack of female teachers. The schools would remain shut until female teachers were recruited, he said.

“We had previously urged educational department officials and some other organisations to appoint female teachers for the schools but they have done nothing so far to deal with the problem,” Mujahid added.

One high, one middle and 11 primary schools for girls had been shut for the past four years, said Educational Director Kochai Zazai. “No female teacher can go to the district to discharge her duty as long as we girls don’t graduate form these schools and aren’t appointed as teachers.”

Mala, a resident hailing from the district, expressed concern over the closure of the schools, saying she had lost hope. She wanted all girls to return to school, complete their education and serve their people.