Historically Musa
Qaleh had the title of being the most dangerous place in Helmand.
Today it is a busy society at all levels and for all ages. The
school in Musa Qal'eh District Centre, a building that
two years ago under Taliban control lay derelict and empty is now
full with children playing football and other playground games.
Mike McKie the Foreign Office Stabilisation Officer says,
"The output of the education centre has been an expansion
in the provision of education from probably no children prior to
the liberation operation to over 2300 children now.
That's fairly significant when we consider the population
of Musa Qaleh, by best estimates it is in the region of 65000."
The school in Musa Qaleh along with schools to the north and
south of the town has been refurbished with help from the British
Forces Military Stabilisation and Support Team (MSST). The team
have provided the support for local contractors to bring the
schools in and around Musa Qaleh up to a suitable condition for
educating children.
The upgraded school in the town centre now
has its own water tower, provided by the employment and
development program of the MSST. This gives the school it own
dedicated water supply.
Lt Colin Boud (RN) Officer Commanding the MSST in Musa
Qal'eh said, "We have provided the desks and
chairs for the schools. Initially we supplied the stationary for
them but over time the Afghan Ministry of Education have been able
to take over that role. It's been a learning process for
the school management, looking ahead and planning for the schools
future requirements. There have been occasions when the school has
run out of text books or other items of stationary, it's
at these times when we have gone back to help them out."
WO2 Michael Bates the Second in Command of the MSST said
"We have just refurbished the schools in Yatenshir and
Minden. Before this there was no education in these areas, now
there are approximately 700 children attending these schools. They
are thriving and proving very successful."
In the centre of Musa Qaleh and opening out into the main Bazaar
the school accepts children from the age of 4 years old. It then
takes them through their schooling for up to twelve years, where
on graduation they have the option to go on to university.
Musa Qaleh can boast 35 registered teachers with a further 11
working in the smaller villages around the main town. Lt Boud went
on 'The school in the District Centre has 1787
students', these students range from infant school age
through secondary school age.
Abdul Asiq is a primary
school teacher working in Musa Qaleh's main school. He
said, 'When President Karzai took over I was in Nowzad in
the 11th grade at school, I moved to Lashkar Gah to finish my
training and graduated, I then became a teacher. I have been
teaching in Musa Qaleh for two years. He continued, 'The
British have helped us, if they weren't here we could not
have built up the school. It is with their help that we have
schools back here.
Standing in the school yard and the classroom you can not help
but notice the lack of girls in attendance. Musa Qaleh is
essentially a country town and while enjoying the security
provided by the Afghan National Police and Army, and the growth of
it Bazaar, the conservative values of the locals still prevent
girls from attending school.
ENDS
Contacts:
Ministry of Defence
NDS.MOD@coi.gsi.gov.uk