Building schools in Afghanistan

Plans for ten shools are in motion with the recent opening of ten building sites. The province of Herat's social and material reconstruction will receive a boost from the completion of these new education establishments and in the future the area will benefit from a better educated and more highly skilled population. The construction of these schools is supported by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and the Italian government as part of their commitment to the future of Afghanistan.

During the last three days the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) commander, Colonel Amedeo Sperotto has participated in the laying of foundation stones in Nang Abad, Karokh and Kazergah. Villages where, in a few months, children will have a proper school building leaving behind the tents and ramshackle facilities they have been attending lessons in until now. Nang Abad's school will cost $182.000, Karokh's one $217.500 and that of Kazergah $183.000.

All ten schools are being constructed using funds from the 2005 Italian Ministry of Defence budget; the total cost is some 1.795.000 dollars.

The sites for the new schools were selected by a joint team of local education and PRT personnel. During the foundation stone ceremonies, PRT personnel have received enthusiastic welcomes from the village headmen, local authorities and inhabitants, all grateful for this much anticipated sign of progress.

"Culture and education of young people are the main themes in order to lay the foundations for a good future, and this is the reason we worked together with local authorities to give an answer, in this important field, to people's demands"-Colonel Sperotto said during a public address.

The ten projects, planned by the specialists of the civil-military co-operation cell, have been allocated to local companies to boost the local economy. The firms are to build one or two storey schoolhouses, depending on the needs of the area, with a maximum of 16 classrooms in each.