CHARIKAR (PAN): Officials said Panjsher education witnessed some sort of development but said more efforts were needed to put the education sector back on track in the province.
Abdul Muteem Halimi, head of education department told Pajhwok Afghan News the province had a total of 150 schools out of which 50 are high, 45 intermediate and the rests are primary schools.
The total number of students reading in the schools of the province reaches to 45,000 out of which 12,000 are girls’ students, he said, noting besides schools, the province had an established institute of business and education faculty as well.
He said construction work on schools’ buildings was under while buildings for 90 schools had already been completed.
Problems, challenges and achievements:
Head of Panjsher Education Department acknowledged education sector was facing multiple problems such as of infrastructure, hygienic water outside and inside schools and laboratories and libraries.
The lack of efficient and professional teachers was a serious problem throughout the province, he remarked.
In addition, students were in dire need of sports grounds in their schools and protecting walls to ensure their safety.
Haleemi, however, said several targets were achieved during the last decade to develop the education sector such as construction of building for various schools, acknowledging half of the schools were still without buildings.
In addition, the education department had been exploring measures to help improve the learning and reading skills of students by establishing libraries in a number of schools.
Teachers and students:
Muhammad Wali, an 11-grade students of Karaman High School they had to go for miles to fetch drinking water daily, which caused wastage of their study hours in school.
Students throughout the province complained about lack of drinking water facilities inside schools.
Mohammad Wali, a  student of 11th class in Karaman High school says that drinking water is not available in his school.
Abdullah, another student from the same high school said shortage of professional teachers, adding that most of the teachers had less qualified who had no ability to teach their students correctly and in a professional way.
Maryam, yet another student complained schools were completely facing potable water, professional teachers and the entire infrastructure.
Amiruddin, a teacher said most of the schools had no buildings, forcing students to study in mosques instead.
Criticizing the incumbent government, he demanded the education department to adopt urgent measures to remove obstacles from the way of education sector.  
People:
People of the province demanded the government should adopt security measures to protect schools and all the educational institutions with special reference girls’ schools. The issue of professional teachers and drinking water should be resolved without further delay.
Alhaj Mohammad Malang, a tribal elder told Pajhwok Afghan News people were more concerned about the education of girls by saying the dilemma was that some girls schools had lack of buildings and insecurity was growing rapidly.
Stakeholders:
Qari Sher Muhammad, a social activist said the education sector was facing daunting challenges, which were needed to be resolved in a move to educate kids of the country for a bright tomorrow.
He underlined greater cooperation between the education department, parents, students and teacher, which would help minimize the scale of challenges being faced by the education sector.