Back to school in Musa Qaleh

Mike McKie the Foreign Office Stabilisation Officer says, "The output of the education centre has been an expansion in the provision of education from probably no children prior to the liberation operation to over 2300 children now.  That's fairly significant when we consider the population of Musa Qaleh, by best estimates it is in the region of 65000."

The school in Musa Qaleh along with schools to the north and south of the town has been refurbished with help from the British Forces Military Stabilisation and Support Team (MSST). The team have provided the support for local contractors to bring the schools in and around Musa Qaleh up to a suitable condition for educating children.
The upgraded school in the town centre now has its own water tower, provided by the employment and development program of the MSST.  This gives the school it own dedicated water supply.

Lt Colin Boud (RN) Officer Commanding the MSST in Musa Qal'eh said, "We have provided the desks and chairs for the schools.  Initially we supplied the stationary for them but over time the Afghan Ministry of Education have been able to take over that role.  It's been a learning process for the school management, looking ahead and planning for the schools future requirements.  There have been occasions when the school has run out of text books or other items of stationary, it's at these times when we have gone back to help them out."

WO2 Michael Bates the Second in Command of the MSST said "We have just refurbished the schools in Yatenshir and Minden.  Before this there was no education in these areas, now there are approximately 700 children attending these schools.  They are thriving and proving very successful."

In the centre of Musa Qaleh and opening out into the main Bazaar the school accepts children from the age of 4 years old. It then takes them through their schooling for up to twelve years, where on graduation they have the option to go on to university.

Musa Qaleh can boast 35 registered teachers with a further 11 working in the smaller villages around the main town.  Lt Boud went on 'The school in the District Centre has 1787 students', these students range from infant school age through secondary school age.
 
Abdul Asiq is a primary school teacher working in Musa Qaleh's main school.  He said, 'When President Karzai took over I was in Nowzad in the 11th grade at school, I moved to Lashkar Gah to finish my training and graduated, I then became a teacher.  I have been teaching in Musa Qaleh for two years.  He continued, 'The British have helped us, if they weren't here we could not have built up the school. It is with their help that we have schools back here.

Standing in the school yard and the classroom you can not help but notice the lack of girls in attendance.  Musa Qaleh is essentially a country town and while enjoying the security provided by the Afghan National Police and Army, and the growth of it Bazaar, the conservative values of the locals still prevent girls from attending school.

ENDS