SAR-I-PUL - The authorities have closed 19 schools in two districts of northern Sar-i-Pul province after students deserted classes, an official said on Tuesday, a move depriving as many as 3,000 children of education.
Abdul Ghafor Saripuli, the provincial education director, said the schools were closed in Sayyad and Kohistanat districts on Monday and salaries to teachers were suspended because students didn’t attend schools due to insecurity, poverty and lack of interest.
He said the move rendered about 3,000 students out of school and nearly 100 teachers jobless. Saripuli said the schools wouldn’t be reopened until the ground for children to attend classes was paved.
He said two other schools were also set to be closed in Shiramha area of the provincial capital because area people had no interest in education.
Mohammad Ali Hakimi, Sar-i-Pul provincial council member, opposed the closure of schools and asked the government and insurgents not to deprive the country’s children of their right to education.
According to local officials, insurgents damaged two school buildings in Herat in the past few days, but the Taliban denied involvement. (Pajhwok)