The Hindu Business Line : It's a problem of plenty & scarcity in schools

At the library, well-dressed children turn the glossy pages of books on subjects ranging from fairy tales to the mysteries of science and technology. About 5,000 Afghan students receive free education here. It lifts the spirit to find several little girls running and jostling along with boys at the end of class. Of course, since it is Afghanistan, the girls will be at this boys' school only till Std. III and then shift to an all girls' school. When you marvel at the school having computers and Internet facilities where you can send e-mails, the school's Director Wali Mohammed, an Afghan, cautions you.

"Please remember this school and another one run by the Germans, are not the best examples of the level of education in Kabul or the countryside. These are islands of excellence, reminding us what the level of education was 25 years ago."

Even though communicating through a translator, the dreamy look in his eyes, as he speaks of the status of education in Afghan society 25 years ago, comes through strongly. He adds, "To what it was 10 years ago, of course it is much better; but we're nowhere near what it was 25 years ago, even though we're making a lot of efforts.

"But given that most schools were destroyed during the war — the Taliban, in particular, ruined our education — we've made progress." The main problem is that most qualified teachers left the country during the war, "So today we don't have enough good teachers. As Afghanistan is being rebuilt from scratch, while the civil services get a lot of prestige and money, teaching has neither, so we are forced to recruit even unqualified teachers," says Mohammed, adding, "Actually we have a problem of both plenty and scarcity; students we have plenty, but there is a shortage of teachers to teach them."

Michel Opuleiac, Physics teacher, says that some Afghan teachers who were working overseas have returned but they have to be content with a meagre salary of $60-$70 (Rs 2,600-3,000) a month. "It's a very difficult situation for them; with this salary they cannot even pay their house rent."

Majid Najibullah, an Afghan teacher, who has returned from France, is helping achieve the "progress in education" the director talks of. To do this, he had to swap a 2,200 Euro (Rs 1,23,000) salary for a mere $60 (Rs 2,600) . But to pay his monthly rent of $250 (Rs 10,700) — as well as a year's advance — he had to fall back upon his savings from his 22-year stay in France.

"But that's okay, I'm sure things will improve," says the handsome Afghan with a smile. But while he can manage, other teachers can't and many of them have to take two jobs, says Opuleiac. "Some of them work for NGOs and other organisations; some even work as taxi drivers!" On the general condition of schools in Afghanistan, particularly in the rural areas, Mohammed adds that there is a huge problem in getting good books, equipment for the laboratories and even chairs and tables.

"This is a country with extreme weather conditions and some of our schools have been so totally destroyed thanks to continuous shelling, that students have to sit on the floor with no roof above them; you can imagine what this means in the harsh winter and scorching summer." He is very happy with India's help on this front. "The two countries that have helped us a lot are Japan and India, apart from France. Other countries have promised a lot but done little."

He recalls that a few years ago, when there was a problem of food "India had sent one million tonnes of biscuits for our children; but now food is not a problem." One is unable to cross check the figure, but there is little doubt that Afghans are very grateful to India for its support during the worst of times.

"Your Indira Gandhi Hospital in Kabul has helped us a lot; now it is being renovated and modernised. India is also helping in the reconstruction of Abidiya School, a very big school for boys in Kabul. Two years ago, India had trained 25 of our teachers and two of them are here, and they're good."

But the 47-year-old educationist has one complaint with India, and strangely enough it is in an area which is otherwise a rage in Afghanistan — Bollywood.

"When I was a young boy, Indian films told a story, but they are not that good any more. Even your music has changed; I'm not happy with the cultural degradation that your films show nowadays... it offends my sensibility," says the man who recalls the talent of "great Indian actors like Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Manoj Kumar... " Right on cue, Najibullah starts humming a tune ... and is delighted when I provide the words of the popular song that must be 40 years old... "Badey arman sey rakkha hei sanam teri kasam, pyar ki duniya mei yeh pehla kadam."

In more ways than one, its import — with great aspiration I've placed my first steps in the world of love — sums up the status of Afghanistan today. There is no denying the spirit of hope that you glimpse... amidst hardship, broken houses, power cuts, et al.

Response may be sent to rasheeda@thehindu.co.in

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It's a problem of plenty & scarcity in schools