Kabul (BNA) President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani on Tuesday inaugurated the new school year by ringing the bell at Amani High School in Kabul where he stressed the need for quality education in the country and vowed further support to teachers.
President Ghani said on Tuesday that 11,173 new teachers will be recruited across the country in the new academic year. The president said the recruitment process will be based on a fair and just process.
Marking the start of the new school year, President Ghani also said the salary increases for teachers will come into effect from the middle of the year. He said he has ordered the Ministry of Finance to prioritize the salary increase process.
President Ghani meanwhile also announced that 1,800 new schools will be built across the country. Following this announcement, the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development handed over the keys and documents of 732 new schools to the Ministry of Education.
According to President Ghani, at least one million children will attend school this year. “Strengthening Afghanistan’s education requires the responsibility of the government, the private sector and, thirdly, people’s support,” President Ghani said.
In the field of education, attention should be paid to quality, the president added. On peace. President Ghani said that he wants a peace where there is no bloodshed. “I want peace so that we do not need an armored vehicle and this bloodshed must end and we must all take a national stand to stop this bloodshed,’ he said.
“Two million children who are just on paper at school but do not go to school is a disaster,” president Ghani added. He also asked the Ministry of Health to pay more attention to the health of students.
“If the third wave of the Coronavirus hits, the education sector will need serious attention,” President Ghani told delegates attending the event. The president also asked the Ministry of Higher Education to employ top university students so as to strengthen the Ministry of Education.
“My favorite time at the [Presidential] Palace is when students come to the Palace because I see hope in their faces,” president Ghani said.
Addressing the event, the first lady Rula Ghani emphasized on debilitation of the education as per the market demand in the country.
The acting minister of education, Rangina Hamidi thanked president’s attention towards education, saying would prioritize digitization, reform and quality in education sector.
