We have been narrating tales of technological progress, economic gains and educational developments the rest of the world has achieved, bidding to create an inspiration to our fate makers’ so that they could steer the country on the agreeable course of sustainable success. We admit the role of quality education central to development of every country we aspire to associate with, anyway. It is believed education is one of the elements; entailing dynamic programs of socio-political and economic riches –it can only transform us from underdeveloped state into fully developed state.
The allocation of most of resources into this sector is the cognition of aforementioned reality –pleading a parallel flow of resources into the said sector. It is anticipated the government and concerned departments launches the state of emergency meant not only to increase the students’ enrollment but also assures the provision of competing education. Being driven by motives of change, the government diverts every saved penny for educational excellence is day-dreaming. The level consideration levied to educational uplift depicts the stance of government which is characterized by negation, underestimation, exclusion and refutation.
Earlier the U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) reported the alleged involvement of the officials from the Afghan Ministry of Education (MoE) in providing fraudulent data to donors in order to personally profit off of donations for schools. “Ministers have reported that no schools are open in the insecure parts of Afghanistan, but former officials have forged the numbers and have embezzled the money,” SIGAR head John Sopko said. The elevated concerns of corresponding donor agencies are equitable stance and must be tried for reversal. Reportedly, SIGAR, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) had spent 769 million USD to support education in Afghanistan since March 31, 2015.
It is heart wrenching to find education sector meagerly administered and poorly governed –the cry for lack of resources is high, however when substantiated is defrauded. Afghan education sector already suffering of poor management, is struck by sever stroke of fund misappropriation. Education sector is worst hit by meager performance –the allegation of fund embezzlement adds to its complication.
Following the SIGAR report the Officials from Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission’s (AIHRC) office in Ghor province have reported findings that fraudulent school statistics have allowed commanders of illegal armed groups operating in the area to embezzle millions of Afghanis intended for teachers’ salaries. The investigation of AIHRC officials has revealed numerous “ghost schools” in Ghor province, meaning, schools that exist on paper and receive funding, but in reality do not exist or are not operating. The funding intended for these schools is said to line the pockets of local powerbrokers and militant leaders. According to the AIHRC office in Ghor, nearly 70 percent of the province’s schools are closed, and tens of local lawbreakers and illegal armed group commanders receive salaries designated for the schools’ teachers.
It’s outrageous to recognize the funds reserved for educational betterment in a province are flowing into the accounts of militants and local commanders who are consecutively unleashing terror plots against the innocent civilians. It is unbelievably frightening the monetary allocation for education is funding heinous crimes –education is shunned in ignorance and militancy is supported instead. Regretfully, incriminating education which undoes the fear out of the mind and heart of people is camouflaged in the constant cloud of terror and endless fear –unluckily parasitizes on its very existence.
The government claiming to be ignorant of the whole state of affairs marks its in-depth negligence or criminal complicity. What about the credibility of whole statistics of ministry of education after the emergence of this report. Doesn’t it reflect the statistics provided about the rest of province are also merely paper work? Will the government ensue the case of such grave fraudulence and punish the culprits devoid of their socio-political standings? There are several questions emerging in the minds of every loyal afghan waiting to be responded –one being is how long will the masses be put to mercy of power players.
The report of fraudulence discredits our very existence as a nation, raise serious questions against our credibility and the distaste of accountability. This act of betrayal is shocking to learn when public officials side the wrongs means of exploiting the public resources –it ultimately earn us disgrace and indignity. The reprehensible act is analogous to self immolation –education fundamental to collective uplift is enrooted by cutting instead of adding the resources going to this department. The minimally performing education sector is deliberately pushed to abysmal of negation. The concerned public officials instead of choosing to resign after the news got public, shamelessly sticks to defend their ill deeds. Sticking to state of constant denial, owing the responsibility of mishaps undertaken in one’s realm marks an in-depth degree of incompetence whilst negating any expectancy of betterment.
At these very dismal circumstances the government has to turn education sector into one of the well-funded sector, aiming to rid the country out of calamity of illiteracy. It is right time the government gets this sector streamlined well nurtured capable to compete with developing counties of the world. A nation reaches to prominence, turn unbeatable and matchless, only when greater intrepid steps are taken to eliminate illiteracy by declaring the state of educational emergency. The profound significance of education in societal ascend is established and undisputed, contrary to being failed to inspire our politicians.