Building peace, one school at a time

Khost Province School

Mandozai District, Khost Province, Afghanistan

The Partnership for Education of Children in Afghanistan (P.E.C.A.) has chosen the rural province of Khost as the location for a new school. Khost is a neglected, less secure area that desperately needs the benefit of education for its youth. Most assistance for education in Afghanistan is given to schools in the capital city of Kabul and in other urban areas. P.E.C.A. supports community efforts in rural districts to enlighten the minds of their young people.

Community Profile of Darnami Girls' School of Mandozai District, Khost Province, Afghanistan

Location: The city of Khost, capital of Khost province, is 222 kilometers (138 miles) southeast of Afghanistan's capital city, Kabul. Mandozai is a rural district in Khost province located 24 kilometers (15 miles) west of the city of Khost. This district is also known at Ismail Khel. The district is named for the two tribes that live there.
There is a damaged road running south of Kabul to Palalam in Logar province, which is the only transportation into the Khost area. The road from Khost to Mandozai district is paved. Travel by car from Kabul to Darnami School takes eight to nine hours. Private buses are available from Khost to Mandozai.
General Population: The population of the Mandozai District has been estimated at 100,000, with 40% being under the age of 18. The literacy rate among men is 20%, and among women is 3%.
The literacy demographics of Mandozai have changed because a large number of educated men who studied and worked in Kabul have returned after retirement. With the help of the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund ( U.N.I.C.E.F.), they now serve their communities by donating land, buildings, and tent classrooms. Even basic education and information from outside sources is a threat to the power held by the Taliban and Al Qaeda.
Until now, Khost province has been ignored by the outside world. People had no opportunity for higher education. This resulted in limited knowledge and a lack of options for the future. These conditions have made it possible for extremism to become adopted as the worldview by many people residing in the Khost Province.
General Education Information
Nearly all schools in Afghanistan are public. The Ministry of Education employs the teachers, but there are some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) involved in paying their salaries in Khost. In the district of Mandozai, there are 16 schools including, Darnami Girls' School. The student population is 13,600. There are five high schools, two middle schools and nine elementary schools. Dr. Nekyar, P.E.C.A.s liaison in Afghanistan, reported that in March 2006, first through third grades study Pashto, Math, Writing, Art, Quran, and Religious Studies. The fourth through sixth grades study Pashto, Dari, Math, Science, History, Geography, English, Quran, and Religious Studies.
Security:
To protect their children from extremist influences, parents in Darnami abide strictly by the decision of their Qaumi Jirga (Tribal Council) not to welcome the Taliban and Al Qaeda. This area is under protection by the authorities of the city of Khost.
In January of 2005, P.E.C.A. received a report that four guards are responsible for the security of the girls' school. In February of 2006, Dr. Nekyar stated that the school is guarded by four armed civilians who are paid by the government.
Health and Mental Health Care:
There is only one clinic in the district. It is funded by an NGO, but it is understaffed. They provide medical treatment and vaccinations. Periodically, biscuits are distributed free to children to provide proper nutrition. There are no diagnostic centers or clinics for the treatment of mental problems.
Economy:
Sources of government revenue are mostly from transportation. Textile manufacturers and other small businesses contribute from the private sector. The money for government programs flows from the central government to the provincial government, and then to the district government.
The main source of income is agriculture. Two crops of wheat and barley are produced each year. Other sources of income are trading, commerce, and small businesses. Public employees, including teachers, are paid by the government.

Darnami Girls' School in the Mandozai District of Khost Province.

The Darnami Girls' School is a 14-room school building on two acres of property. The wall around the school--with gates for pedestrian and vehicle traffic--and eight dry-system toilets, were completed in July 2005. Renovation of the classrooms was completed in July 2007. Water is still being hauled to the school, but P.E.C.A. anticipates that a well will be dug in the next few months.
The remaining rooms need to be completed:
· An office space
· A health office
· A room for the security guards
· A library
· A science lab
· A multi-purpose community room
· A storage room
· Additional classrooms, so that girls can continue through 12th grade
Estimated cost $150,000.
Girls were given tennis shoes and fabric for uniforms, and money to have the uniforms made. School supplies were delivered to all of the students, teachers, and administrators. Carpets were provided, so that the girls did not have to sit directly on the ground. World maps and maps of Afghanistan were provided.
There were two schools in Darnami in June 2004. The first was for 465 girls in the first through fourth grades, and the second was for 950 boys in the first through 11th grades. The girls' school had a headmaster, nine teachers, and two janitors. The principal is responsible for both Darnami Girls' School, and Darnami Boys' School.
In March 2006, the total student population of the girls' school was 550 with 12 teachers. The number of students fell to 350 in August because another school for girls opened in a nearby village. With the start of a new school year in 2007, the number was about 520.
In 2007, the Ministry of Education upgraded the status of the school to a high school, which now includes the first through 12th grades.
It is preferred that girls over the age of ten have female teachers. The Provincial Department of Education is working to identify and train these teachers. Low salaries and lack of training are big problems in attracting and retaining them.
With no health care near this village, medical personnel are needed to check hearing and vision, signs of malnutrition, and disease.
Funding is needed for furnishing the rooms and providing teaching aids such as posters, dictionaries, computers and lab equipment. The girls would like sports equipment so they can play volleyball, basketball, tennis, and ping-pong. Each year, the level of study is increased, and the conditions for these girls are better. This year, there is a seventh grade class.