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MARJAH DISTRICT, Afghanistan -- Four new schools opened in Marjah District, Afghanistan, just in time for the beginning of the school year, Sept. 5.
The schools are indicative of the progress witnessed since coalition forces pushed the insurgency out of Marjah. The schools were a priority project of the local government in Helmand province and Marines in the area.
“We did this project because it was the number one project requested by the people,” said Capt. Benjamin Swanson, civil affairs officer for 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment. “Schools are a symbol of something the government of Afghanistan can provide to the people that the Taliban cannot.”
The schools will teach the curriculum designed by the Afghan government. A formal education system in the region shows the growing influence of the Afghan government.
“The reason this school is so good is because of what the governor has done and what the elders have done,” said Maj. Gen. Richard P. Mills, the Regional Command Southwest commander. “They are the men who brought you the beautiful school.”
Students poured in from all over Marjah to register for school, even though final touches are still being made. The registration process is vital to the continuance of the project since student accountability will allow the government to provide the correct number of textbooks.
Marjah Central High School, located near the district center, is close to completion. The other two formal schools, Caru Chareh Primary School and Balakino Primary School, are using temporary structures for the next couple of months until the permanent structures are completed.
MCHS has permanent structures, but future plans call for a more robust education facility. The plan is to have an even larger structure built in time for the start of the next school year. An administration building, a 16-classroom building and an athletic field are some of the main features being added to the new high school.
Over the course of the academic year, the school will receive new furniture and more supplies necessary to continue classes. Marines also passed school supplies out to children on the first day to encourage them attend.
Due to economic strains brought on during Taliban control, students were caught between decisions to help support their families or attend classes. With improving security and improving economics in Marjah, the students in the classroom were demonstrating that Afghans are choosing a brighter future.
“The door of education is open to us,” said Noor Muhammed, a teacher at MCHS. “These people have helped bring that to us.”
| Date Taken: | 09.05.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 09.06.2010 10:55 |
| Story ID: | 55791 |
| Location: | AF |
| Web Views: | 624 |
| Downloads: | 6 |
This work, School, future built for Marjah children, by Cpl Jeremy Fasci, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
