36 schools to be built soon

Kabul, January 7, 2007 (Pajhwok Afghan News): About 36 schools in nine provinces would be built at the cost of $2 million from the government development budget, officials said on Sunday.

Minister for Education Mohammad Hanif Atmar singed contract with private construction companies in Kabul. After inking the contract, Atmar told reporters the project were including primary, middle and high schools that would be completed in six months. He said the schools would house 32,000 boys and girls students.

He said the schools would be built in Laghman, Panjsher, Kunduz, Sar-i-pul, Herat, Paktia, Nangrahar, Balkh and Kunar provinces. The minister said shortage of buildings was basic problem of the deteriorating situation of education.

He said they had built 600 schools in the yesteryear and 100 more would be constructed in next three months. He said there were about 9,000 schools in the country and about 5,500 of them should be reconstructed.