Afghanistan Postcard

By Chaplain Leon O'Flynn

Colourfully cosy

One often hears clichés like, ‘education is the key for a countries development’ or ‘our children are our future’. Here in Afghanistan these statements are not only true, but are lived out on a daily basis.

The New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team (NZ PRT) is involved with education on two levels. On the first level, are projects developed in conjunction with the local Provincial Director of Education, while the second level sees our involvement as individuals.

Level One

Supporting educational projects

In conjunction with the local Education Director, the NZ PRT assists with the project planning (mostly in preparation for the summer season), based on the priorities highlighted. The Afghan-led nature of this relationship is very important, as the local leadership has the best understanding of the local population. This level of detailed planning ensures that there are no conflicting projects being run in conjunction with other seminal projects run by Non-Governmental Organisations or similar agencies.

Picture perfect

Issues

There are a number of issues that must be addressed for education to advance to the next level. One example is the lack of formal training provided to existing teachers throughout the province. Another example is that nearly a third of all schools (around 300) do not have suitable infrastructures to teach in, therefore classes for these schools are taught in tents or even in open fields. Both of these factors impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of the teachers being able to teach, and the students being able to learn. As you travel through local villages, and talk with local families, there is no need to convince parents to get their children to school. In fact, it often seems harder to get children out of school. Most schools run private classes over the winter months, where attendance is optional. These classes are often full of keen students. For those attending these classes, they will often have to travel through snow, and endure sitting in a cold class room, while their parents have to source payment for these classes.

Level Two

Chalk face’ intervention

On patrol

The second area of education involves our direct involvement as individuals. The PRT provides four separate classes to the locally employed personnel, local children, and the ANP. One class is taught by our locally employed Engineers to improve their grasp of the English language. The second and third classes are run by volunteers (Signallers and EIR Technician), teaching basic English to students of varying ages. The fourth class is taught by our female volunteers at the local Girls’ High School.

In many ways, I think we get more out of these classes than the locals do. It is a chance for each of us to interact with locals and I think at times feel as though we are doing something practical to help people. None of us are trained teachers, but the classes are billed as ‘conversational English’.

Highlights

One of the highlights so far on this trip has come from these classes. Two of the young men in the classes have started working at the front gate of the PRT as interpreters. These two youths are so enthusiastic to learn that they follow us every time we leave the compound, so they can practise their English with us. You had to admire their persistence! We took many photos to remind us of what we are involved with in the education sector. They also might serve to help you understand why many of us will leave a portion of our hearts in Afghanistan.

Deployment statistics

New Zealand’s contribution to Afghanistan (at the time of printing) is as follows:

• 114 personnel in the NZ PRT in Bamyan Province
• 2 non-commissioned officers assisting with training of Afghan National Army troops
• 5 officers in International Security Assistance Force headquarters positions
• 1 military liaison officer with the United Nations Assistance Mission
• SAS personnel in Kabul.

Image Gallery - Issue 114