KABUL - Tribal elders agreed that families who prevent their girls from going to school will be fined 5,000 AFs.
Tribal elders in Khost province have ordered parents to send their girls to school and agreed to fine families who fail to do so.
The tribal elders said the decision was made to prevent girls from being denied an education in Musa Khail district in Khost.
The decision was taken at a gathering at a school in the province where elders agreed to impose a 5,000 AFs fine on families who stop their daughters from going to school.
“All councils and tribal elders have made one decision to allow girls to go to school as they allow boys. Those who oppose this decision will be fined 5,000 AFs,” said Malik Zarin, a tribal elder in Khost.
“If we send our daughters and girls to school, we will not face a shortage of women doctors and healthcare officials. An educated girl will help educate a whole family,” said Gul Mohammad Khan, a tribal elder.
Meanwhile, the provincial directorate of education welcomed the move and said the authority is committed to taking serious steps for the improvement of education in the district.
The provincial education director Nasir Roshan said such agreements and decisions should be made in other districts in Khost in order to allow more girls to go to school.
“People are ready to allow both girls and boys to go to school, but they face the lack of facilities,” said Roshan.
Khost has 351 schools with over 3,000 students of which at least 40 percent are girls. (Tolo news)