Shafa Mohammad, Tulam Ahkmad, Mirza Mohammad and Shaifulla stand behind their desk Oct 17 at Agha Jon school, located in the Gelan District of Ghazni Province. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Michael Pintagro Children as young as 7 and men as old as 25 will learn mathematics,
science, history and geography as well as Islamic subjects at the new facility.
science, history and geography as well as Islamic subjects at the new facility.
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael Pintagro
Task Force Spartan public affairs
FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARRIOR, Afghanistan, Oct. 24, 2006 —Officials from the Gelan District of Ghazni Province, Afghan National Policemen and key Coalition leaders joined around 300 enthusiastic children, elders and area villagers for the reopening of a school in the town of Agha Jon, Oct 17.
The school reopening came about seven months after Taliban militants set fire to the building and terrorized students, parents and teachers.
Mir Ahmad, the Gelan District sub-governor, addressed elders, townsmen, teachers and students in the courtyard of the school.
“Islam is about knowledge,” Ahmad said. “Islam isn’t about destroying schools and preventing teachers from teaching. It isn’t true Islam the enemy is protecting. Islam is a religion of peace.”
Army Lt. Col. Frank Sturek, the commander of Task Force Warrior and a key figure in regional security, economic development and education, attended the school opening alongside other leading project participants. Sturek’s soldiers labored alongside members of Task Force Vigilant Archer, a subordinate organization whose members played the leading Coalition role in the project.
“This marks the beginning of a new day for Gelan and a bright new future for the children of Gelan,” Sturek said, adding that the establishment of security and infrastructure in the district will permit additional funding and additional regional construction projects.
“I congratulate you on your courage,” the native of Aberdeen, Md., continued. “I congratulate you on starting school today. You’ll receive 100-percent support from the Coalition forces and the Afghan National Security Forces to make this school a success.”
American soldiers and Afghan policemen distributed backpacks and patriotic stickers to young students after the speaking program.
School officials said around 1,400 boys and young men will attend classes at the refurbished facility. Children as young as 7 and men as old as 25 will learn Pashtun, mathematics, science, history and geography as well as Islamic subjects at the new facility. Around 25 teachers will conduct morning sessions for teenagers and young men and afternoon classes for younger children during the spring, summer and fall. Most Afghan schools close during the winter months.
Army Maj. Rob Fugere, the commander of Task Force Vigilant Archer, described the school opening as an important step in regional development and a victory for the people of the district over militants who frequently intimidated them in the past.
“Every time they get a school up and running, the Taliban comes in and burns down the school and threatens the teachers,” Fugere said. “But since we’ve been here conducting patrols and maintaining a presence, the Taliban have fled and the people have been able to live their lives normally without fear. Part of that is being able to send their kids to school.”
“The true way for Afghanistan to advance is to educate its youth,” the Grand Forks, N.D., native added. “This is an important step in that direction.”
Young and old ceremony participants alike expressed enthusiasm for the new facility.
“Our children will get education,” said Abdul Hamid, a village elder from Afgha Jon. “We will have educated people in our district serving their families and the community.”
“It’s a nice building,” he added. “We’ve got a nice new building.”
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