Many states like that of Afghanistan, myopically perceive the fate of nation guided by foreign investments or donations which is unarguable fallacy. Without giving education first priority we can’t keep pace with technological, innovative and scientific advancement the world has attained. The education itself is a proof to the progressiveness and development of the nations. The most developed nations in the worlds have most developed and best education systems while, the underdeveloped, struggling ones and one with the bad economy and global ranks have the bad education systems when compared to the developed ones.

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. 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. But it should be learnt without proper security arrangement every single development couldn’t lead to fruition.

With rise in unrest in the war-hit region of Wardoj district in northern Badakhshan province, it is lately disclosed that the insurgents have closed down all schools in the area and are recruiting students to fight for them. This negative development is tallied by the head of Badakhshan education department unearthed round about 10,000 students out of school in Wardoj – 40% of whom are girls. The disclosure goes with edge cut coincidence of child soldier being used by insurgent in the pursuit of furthering their goals. How discouraging to find the government unconcerned about this heart wrenching development and demonstrating complicit silence combating this trend by the insurgents. It is wearisome knowing the voice of many innocent kids fall short of producing sensation of hearing in the ears of the rulers of the country.

The atrocity doesn’t end with this only tale. Previously an official claimed the school teachers were being recruited and appointed by the Taliban in the Shah Joy district. This worrying stance is affirmed by the serving head of the province confirming salaries of teachers were being pocketed by the Taliban as a number of insurgents have been appointed as instructors in the schools. 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.

Formerly, 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 donations for schools. 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.

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. 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 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.

The government whether ignorant or restrained to avert the whole state of affairs marks an 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? Will the unity government exercise greater writ over education and ensure insurgents should exploit the fund? 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 insurgent and power players. 

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.

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. 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 aided with proper security and surveillance. Being driven by motives of change, the government diverts every saved penny for educational excellence is day dreaming.