A number of students at government schools are complaining about shortages of textbooks and teachers. They say the lack of books and teachers has disrupted their education, and in some cases they are forced to buy the textbooks they need at their own expense. According to them, after the end of the academic year, schools take back the books that students had bought with their own money. They add that the books distributed by schools are often old and worn out and do not reach all students.
In conversations with the Hasht-e Subh Daily, these students also named ineffective teaching methods, a lack of attention from some teachers to lessons and students, and a shortage of classrooms, laboratories, drinking water, standard toilets, and desks and chairs as other problems facing schools. They also say that in some government boys’ schools, principals emphasize wearing traditional clothing and turbans instead of focusing on education. According to them, students at some schools have been warned that they will face expulsion or punishment if they do not wear the designated clothing and turban.
Sultana, a student at a government school, says the academic year is nearing its end while many students still do not have enough textbooks. She adds that her family bought most of the books she needs at their own expense, but the books distributed by the school reached only a few students in each class, and some of them cannot be used because they are worn out.
Sultana says: “We need books to learn. If we do not have books, what are we supposed to study from? This situation is very stressful for me, and I try hard to borrow books from previous years from our neighbors and study from them.”
Sayed Mudassir, another student, says the lack of educational facilities in schools, especially books and school supplies, has limited students’ opportunities to learn. He adds that the lack of sufficient facilities for teaching, particularly for practical lessons, is one of the major problems facing students.
Mudassir says: “Most government schools are schools in name only. During the Taliban’s rule, we have seen a reduction in textbooks and a shortage of teachers, and we face many problems with books, school supplies, and educational facilities. Skilled teachers and those with the capacity and ability to teach must be recruited so that students can study properly.”
Ehsan, a resident of Kabul whose two brothers study at a government school, says changes in teaching staff are among the problems families have faced in recent years. According to him, a number of teachers who previously taught at schools have been dismissed, and this has affected the quality of education.
Ehsan says: “I really do not know what to say. Government schools are schools in name only. Over these five years, we have seen many problems. Along with the shortage of textbooks, schools also face a shortage of teachers. Many of the teachers who used to teach before have been sidelined, and teaching and learning are no longer what they used to be. The problems of schools are very many and must be addressed.”
Shabbir, a resident of Panjshir, says the removal of professional teachers and their replacement with non-specialists has undermined the quality of teaching in some subjects. He adds that this problem is more visible in subjects such as English and computer science.
Shabbir says: “In Ganjir, they removed an English teacher and a computer teacher from the school, even though these teachers had graduated in that field, had studied their subject, and had also completed courses. Now a mullah has been appointed in their place to teach English and computer science, but in practice he does not teach and only says, ‘read this and learn it yourselves.’ The shortage of teachers is one problem, and the removal of specialists is another.”
In the view of this young man, the consequences of this situation are not limited to the shortage of teachers, and in some cases, students do not properly learn basic reading and writing skills even after finishing school.
Shabbir adds: “In several schools, more attention is paid to students’ appearance and to wearing caps and turbans, while attention should be paid to how much they are learning. A student may study for 12 years at school but still have difficulty with reading and writing at the end.”
Meanwhile, a number of education activists say that the shortage of textbooks not only limits students’ access to learning materials but can also affect their concentration, interest, and learning process. They add that several students sharing a single book limits their opportunity to study and to participate in lessons.
Zainab Kohistani, an education activist, says: “Textbooks are among the most important learning resources for students and a fundamental part of the curriculum. When several students use one book, the process of teaching and learning is disrupted, and students’ concentration and interest in the lesson may decline. The lack of books can prevent students from fully understanding their lessons, and as a result, feelings of failure and distrust may grow among them.”
Zainab stresses that the responsibility for providing textbooks lies with the Ministry of Education (MoE), and that increasing the budget, distributing books regularly and free of charge, and providing digital learning resources could be ways to reduce the shortage of books in schools.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has also said that Afghanistan’s education system faces widespread challenges, but that an opportunity to rebuild it still exists.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has also warned that the education crisis in Afghanistan is not limited to the exclusion of girls from education, and that the quality of education is also facing serious problems. According to UNESCO’s estimates, about 2.4 million girls will have been deprived of secondary education by 2026. The organization also says that about 90 percent of 10-year-old children in Afghanistan are unable to read or understand a simple text.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
کمبود کتاب و آموزگار؛ دانشآموزان: طالبان بهجای آموزش بر پوشیدن دستار تاکید دارند
