ZARANJ (PAN): Education has been moving on path to progress in the capital and its suburbs but people of the far-flung districts of Nimroz complain the vital sector faces formidable challenges that need to be resolved without further delay.
Residents and officials of Nimroz province said most of the schools in the province were facing lack of professional teachers, textbooks and proper buildings.
Abdul Wahid Hikmat, provincial head of education department told Pajhwok Afghan News his province had 250 schools in which 86,000 students with 30% among them were females getting their education. 
In addition to schools, technical and agriculture colleges were functioning in Zaranj and a number of other districts. As many as 20 seminaries were imparting religious education to male and female students in the province.
He said the province had no state-run university but a special university had been offering courses in law and economy and another institute had also been established in the province.
Achievements and challenges:
Head of the education department said Nimroz education sector witnessed fast-paced progress during the last several years, adding that much had been achieved in promoting education in the area.
He said buildings for some schools in some districts had been built, adding strength of the students with special reference that of the female students had been surged.
“Lack of professional teachers, rampant insecurity in remote districts and unavailability of potable water inside schools are among challenges that are hampering the progress of education in some localities,” Hikmat added.
Reluctance of professional teachers to discharge duties in remote areas’ schools, growing insecurity and lawlessness were hampering education in the province, he informed.
Teachers and students:
Muhammad Ibrahim, a student of 10th class at Farkhi College in Zaranj said the biggest problem the students had been facing was the absence of textbooks, which could not be delivered on time to schools.
Talking to Pajhwok Afghan News, he said 50 % books could not be given to students last year, forcing the students to buy the books from the markets. He said half of the year was passed when they got the books.  
“The non-availability of books on time is causing wastage of our time and left negative impact on our studies. The problem led most of the students to failure in the examinations and some were able only to get passing marks,” he added.
Samiullah, a student from Chahar Burjak district said absence of professional teachers was the main problem being faced by the students.
He said professional teachers were not ready to teach in the schools of remote districts with low pay while the far-flung districts had no competent teachers.
He demanded the government should take steps to ensure provision of every possible facility to teachers and adopt measures to recruit competent and eligible teachers in larger interests of the coming generation.
Abdul Hadi, another student from Naranj city complained regarding lack of professional teachers and absence of school buildings.
He asked the relevant departments should work out stringent measures to resolve the issue of professional teachers, adding teachers were getting low pay, forcing other educated persons to stay away from teaching sector.
Muhammad Sabir, an educationist said the vital field was moving ahead with progress within the Naranj city and other districts close to the capital. He said a matter of satisfaction was that a large number of girls were among the male students getting education in various schools.
“Lawlessness, insecurity and deteriorated order in remote districts create hurdles in the way of promoting education,” he added.
He said absence of school buildings, lack of professional teachers, unavailability of textbooks in schools and lack of facilities to teachers’ community were among challenges being faced by the education sector.
He demanded the concerned authorities should ponder ways to remove legitimate grievances of students, parents and teachers in an attempt to make education available for every kid of the province.