Collective Work in Afghan Schools

 

Written by: Najia Nijat

Safia and Samim are the guests of Lalo Mama but they reach late to the castle. Lalo Mama comes and after greeting, he asks that why they came late.

Safia says that her sister was sick because they study in an open-air class.

Lalo Mama takes them into the corridor of the castle and there he opens a window for their information.

Window:

In the window, there is a class in the open air. The weather is cloudy and the voice of thunder is heard.

Nasima says to her classmate, Lailuma that it might rain. The teacher allows the students to go home. Lailuma and Nasima want to go home. it rains and Lailuma slips in the mud and hurts her leg.

Next day Nasima goes to Lailuma’s house and wants her to go to school with her. Lailuma says that she doesn’t want to go to school anymore because of dust, hot weather, and rain.

Lalo Mama closes the window.

Safia says that her sister also doesn’t want to go to school.

Lalo Mama says that some people have found a solution to this problem and he turns on a tape recorder.

Sulaiman, a resident of Paktia province says: “My sister was in the second grade and she was studying in an open-air class. My family decided to build an ordinary class for them by collective work. the school administration also assisted them.”

Sayed Husain, a resident of Surkh Rod district of Nangarhar province says:

“We have built a school in our garden by our own expenses and now many students study there.”

Lalo Mama turns off the tape. Safia says that she would ask her father to build a class with the help of other villagers for the students.