American servicemembers help bring education to Afghan community

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Renni Thornton
  • 451st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (AFNS) --  The American Provincial Reconstructive Team in Zabul and 451st Air Expeditionary Wing leaders joined the provincial governor and community leaders as they gathered for the ribbon-cutting ceremony Feb. 25 of the newly-built all-boys Sheik Mati High School and dormitory here.

The 240-bed facility will be home to young men as they attend the school built in 2009.

Provincial Governor Mohammad Ashraf Naseri, who officiated the event, said he is pleased with the recent successes in the community.

"We are excited and the community is very receptive to have the school," Governor Naseri said. "Boys can now come from far distances to attend school."

He also talked about the continued emphasis on education and healthcare for the entire community.

"The boys will begin to move in within the next 30 days and will begin at the start of the school session," said Zabul Line Minister of Education Abdul Nabi Wadan.

In the past, the region has experienced difficulty in bringing qualified higher level teachers to remote communities.

Forty Afghan teachers will facilitate the year-round curriculum.

According to Afghan ministry of education officials, this new boarding high school has the potential of increasing literacy in the province by 10 percent.

He also highlighted the importance of the boarding school to elevate the education level of the most remote districts that have never had access to high school-level education.

This statistic is particularly significant considering the current estimated literacy rate among males is 11 percent and 1 percent among women, said Lt. Col. Andy Veres, the commander of the PRT.

The dorm has four beds per room with a capacity to house eight boys per room. The facility also has a dining facility, mosque, soccer field and classrooms.

The entire project was estimated at $6 million.

"We are proud of the work the U.S. PRT has done," Governor Naseri said. "They have done an excellent job this year. They have put a lot of commitment into the school buildings. We are very pleased with the work we have done together."

"It is a great honor to be able to attend this event," said Brig. Gen. Guy Walsh, the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing commander. "On behalf of (Regional Command)-South, we congratulate the work of the PRT team and the people of Zabul. It is great to see such teamwork accomplish so much."