SPANISH PRT TEACHES SPANISH LANGUAGE TO FEMALE QAL’EH-YE NOW STUDENTS

QAL´EH-YE NOW, Afghanistan (Mar 30, 2010) – Members of the

Spanish Provincial Reconstruction Team have started teaching Spanish to female

students at Qal’eh-Ye Now College

  

The team had to overcome initial misgivings in the Northwestern Afghanistan city through negotiations and establishing contacts. For the past two years the college did allow Spanish classes for male students. However, despite demand from students, no females could take the same classes.

Beginning March 30, Spanish military personnel, both male and female, from the PRT will teach classes twice a week at the college. Classes will be limited to 30 students.

With the assistance of the Spanish contingent in the area and the cooperation of the college, the new classes will contribute to the education of women in the area. As the third most-spoken language in the world, Spanish is an important aspect of the students’ education, according to college officials.

Both Spanish and Afghan officials said they understand the need to educate women alongside men across Afghanistan. They said it’s a step closer to achieving gender equality in the country.