PAN, June 7, 2008

Taliban's threats shrink attendance in girl's schools

Ten out of 50 schools in the city of southern Ghazni province were girls' schools with four of them closed down so far.

GHAZNI CITY: Four girls' schools are about to close down their operations due to decrease in number of students and staffers following threatening pamphlets issued by Taliban in the southern Ghazni province.

A school torched by Taliban in Khost.

School officials said the letters pasted on the school gates by Taliban at night had threatened students to death in the southern city of Ghazni a week back.

Jahan Malika is one of the four schools in this city where there has been considerable decrease in the number of students and teachers.

Behishta a ninth grade student said the number of students in her class decreased from 50 to 12 in a week time after the threats, similar was the case about the teaching staff, she added: "we studied only four hours during last one week."

Joulina Faizi head of the provincial council to inspect schools said the threats had scared both teachers and students. They had talked with the education and security organs on the issue she added.

Ustad Habibur Rahman, head of the provincial council worried on the deteriorating educational condition.

Ten out of 50 schools in the city of southern Ghazni province were girls' schools with four of them closed down so far.

Sayed Ibrar Hanon while admitted threats to students refused closure of any school in the southern city he added, there has been decrease in the number of students and staffers but the schools have not been closed down.

13 schools across the province have been closed by the enemies of government during the last few years.

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