Students in southern province of Kandahar signify awful future for education in the region, unless serious steps are taken to reform education system. A system that is all mired in corruption.
Corruption in other Afghan governmental offices is not unusual, but in education sector it is rather a turning point that could lead the society to devastating results.
Pushing back talents in favor of ties, connection, money, power and influence are considered to be major categories of corruption in Kandahar schooling system that is already being adversely affected as a result of insecurity.
On the other hand lack of capable governmental leaders is also considered to be a great obstruction in the education system. After insecurity, the rampant corruption in educational system is considered to be a catastrophe for the volatile province,
“The corruption in education system is in its peak. There are no professional and experienced teachers in schools. I have hired my own personal teacher who teaches me.” Essmatullah Baher, 12th grade student of Temor Shahi High School in Kandahar, told Surgar.
The different categories of corruption in education sector are the reasons why the system is going downward-spiral. In most of the schools there is no adequate curriculum. Students get good grades based on personal ties and bribery.
“My father asked me for what reason I’ve got the 38th position in the class, I told him to give me 60,000. AFN ($1304) and I will show you straight A.” Mohmmad Khan Khatibi, a high school student in Zahir Shahi High school, told Surgar. “There are few teachers whom are not corrupted.”
Shortage of capable people in Kandahar provincial department of education remains the biggest challenge to the troubled sector.
“There are numerous problems in Kandahar provincial education sector. Government is not aware of the fact that system is nearly halted, because nobody cares about it. Lack of professional teachers is also considered to be a major challenge.” The head of Qalam private secondary school told Surgar in an exclusive interview.
Education is the first important factor in the development of a country. Where there is no education there is no doctors, engineers or the other important people that could raise the overall status of a country.
People involved in corruption inside the education system are considered ‘disloyal to the nation’ and the coming generation, according to locals.
Mohmmad Farooq, teacher in Kandahar teaching & training institute and head of Kandahar science institute says he has heard unbelievable stories about teachers. “I have heard that a teacher threw his exams paper after he collected it from students in the ditch on the way home. Now if that’s true, how could he judge students talents accordingly? There are teachers who pass students based on bribes or even telephone credit cards.”
Insecurity, lack of awareness and corrupt education officials are likely to cause education system a lot of harm.
“In many schools we do not have laboratories, and in the few school that have these facilities lack experienced teachers for scientific experiments.” Mohmmad Hasham, a teacher who has been teaching from past 35 years, told Surgar.
During the past two years the provincial education department has remained without director. For a certain period of time there was only an acting Director.
Aimal Shuja is a teacher; says he hasn’t even seen the acting director of Education department in his school for supervision. No one has paid a visit to the school from past four years in order to know about students and teachers problems and concerns. He also said that corrupt teachers have also harmed all teachers’ reputation but, there are teachers that are still clean.
“The corrupt teachers have harmed our character too. There are good teachers who don’t take bribe or pass students based on personal ties or for bribes.” Hasham, another teacher told Surgar.
Is it possible for a teacher to pass a student in exams individually, or in other words without others’ assistance? We shared our assumption with Agha Sheren, assistant head master of Zahir Shahi High School.
He said it is impossible for a teacher to pass failed students in exams without cooperation of other officials in the school. He laid the blame on those senior officials whom brought incapable people into the lead. “There is really need of skilled, honest and capable officials in the education system.”
There are obvious signs of vast corruption in Kandahar education department. Students are passed in exams who do not attend school, they only go to school when exams arrive; Khatibi gave another example of corruption.
“A student should be excluded after him making 40 absentees during the nine month study period. But what we see during the nine months only 25 students in our class are present, and on exam day there are 39 students. Despite the fact such students are passed with good grades. Why? Because of corruption” He said.
At the same time, another teacher says there are problems, but are also solutions.
“The system needs youth to be given the opportunity to participate, because they have the energy, passion, and talent.” Mohmmad Rahimi said.
Even though some point fingers of blame to school teachers and other senior officials in the department, others say parents should be blamed.
“Parents are the ones responsible for their children. They should look after their children if they are going to school regularly or not, and ensure if they are studying or no.” Nada Mohmmad, a student told Surgar.
Central government agrees with the existing problems in Kandahar education system.
Deputy Minister of Afghan Education, Mohmmad Asif Nang says efforts to appoint head for Kandahar provincial education department are underway. As if the four years are not enough to fill a crucial business.
“Even though it’s not our job to appoint a head for the department, but we will help.” He said.
The question remains unresolved is what could save the falling education sector of the province?
It is only possible when teacher and senior officials turn honest, get knowledge of their responsibility, Baheer answered.
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