ASAD ABAD (PAN): The vital education sector in Kunar is progressing well without any fear of obstacles to hamper its evolution, officials said.
Sayed Jamal-u-Din, provincial head of education department expressed with satisfaction that education faces no challenges in his area. 
Outlining the overall strength of educational institution in his area of jurisdiction, he said the province has 249 primary with 11 of them are boys, 42 are girls while the rest 196 serves boys as wells girls’ kids jointly.
He informed following extended cooperation by the central government, as many as 30 seminaries have been established with 18 of them for boys, and four for girls while rest of eight Madrassas serve boys and girls kids. 
In addition to schools and Madrassas, he said four Dar-ul-Hafizs and two Dar-ul-Ulom are also functioning, adding currently 107,683 students are being imparted education with 68, 221 are female students.  
He went on to say that Asad Abad has a grand Dar-ul-Moalimeen, which has branches in Saukai, Khas Kunar, Noor Gul, Manogai, Chapa Dara, Asmar, Ghazi Abad and Nawarai districts. He said 181 females are among 10, 338 students studying in the grand Dar-ul-Moalimeen.  
He said Sayed Jamal-u-Din Afghan University is also functioning in Kunar, which has four faculties including Sharia, agriculture, computer science and education.
University Head Mir Ahmad Hamid told Pajhwok Afghan news the university was established back in 1389, which has four faculties and 15 branches.  
He said 1, 888 students are enrolled in the university and 10 percent of them are female students.
Challenges and progress:
Head of Kunar education department said 157 schools have been opened recently among the total 490 educational institutions. Construction of buildings for 40 schools is underway while the rest schools have no proper buildings, forcing students to get education in mosques, rented houses or under the open sky.
Head of Jamal-u-Din University said so for buildings have been constructed for education faculty while work on building for agriculture faculty is in progress. He went on to say that rests of the faculties have no buildings, which put the students into immense trouble.
People:
Naqibullah, a resident of Asad Abad says: “The people of Kunar want to equip their kids with advance education and knowledge but we have teachers in schools who have not completed their 12th class education.”
He ruled out the possibility to prepare students for higher education to go to universities following the incompetent teachers in schools.
He said Taliban in Kunar do not oppose education rather they want children to get education. Most of the teachers do not ensure their timely presence in the schools.
He said the Taliban have issued warnings that teachers should reform themselves otherwise stern action would be taken against the teachers.
Head of the education department also said Taliban do not create hurdles in the way of education.
Hailing from Asad Abad, Inamullah said he is lucky enough to have his two sons and three daughters go to school to get education.
Students and teachers:
Minhaja, a female student of 8th class from Narang district said all her teachers are male despite the fact that girls are now promoted to eighth and ninth classes. She said that girls have the single option to quit studies because of absence of female teachers.
She said the matter of concern is that parents are not willing to allow their daughters to be taught by male teachers. She said if alternative for teachings are explored then female education ratio would surge dramatically.
Attiqullah, a second year student of the computer science department in the Sayed Jamal-u-Din University said there are no hostels for the students and the province has no accommodation where the students could stay.
He demanded of the government to build a hostel for students because accommodation is a big problem of the university.
Mehrabuddin, a student of 10th class in Shaheed Moalim Salim High School said the new curriculum is very tough and even the teachers do not understand its content when they teach their students.
Khairullah, a teacher in the Ghambi Manznai School said despite all challenges, his province has all educational institutions fully functional.
 
Intellectuals:
Maulvi Abdul Rehman, head of Kunar religious leaders Shura told Pajhwok Afghan News that seeking education is obligatory upon every Muslim man and woman. He said it is a matter of greater satisfaction that kids in Kunar are getting education amid better environment.
He said the Shura of religious leaders time and again asks the people with special reference women to complete their education by wearing Islamic dress.