Qal-e-Bala Village inaugurates school

Qal-e-Bala village inaugurated a new school Feb. 12, 2011, and more than 1,300 Afghan children will soon attend and receive a formal education there.

The 16-classroom school is the largest of its kind in Karukh District, Herat Province, and with their staff of 25 female and 22 male teachers, will educate 785 female and 558 male students.

Many new students expressed hope the school will lead to a brighter future.

"I like to study and in the future I would like to become a doctor," said one student of the village of Qal-e-Bala here, located 50 kilometers from Herat.

The Herat Education Department requested the school be built.

The Herat Provincial Reconstruction Team answered the request and in only five-month’s time, built the school under the Praesidium Project using American Commander's Emergency Response Program (CERP) funds.

The 1,000 sq. meter school cost about $200,000.

Students aren’t the only ones with high hopes for the future.

"We hope to ensure a better future for these kids who really want to study," said Wakil Ahmad, senior teacher of the village. "I taught for forty years and until a few weeks ago my lessons was performed in tents.”

Ahmand thanked the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) for building the school.

"I am very happy to be here," said Arvin Tahiri, head of Herat’s Department of Education. "When I was young [we had no] school, no books and no teachers.”

Tahiri is thankful that the children of today will be afforded more opportunities than he had.

Herat PRT leadership expressed gratitude for being afforded the opportunity to help local children.

"This school is not only an architectural construction, it is our help to the Afghan people,” said Italian army Lt. Col. Mario Di Leva, Herat PRT’s Civilian and Military Cooperation (CIMIC) director. “We hope they can live in a country with the same opportunity as other nations. It's just a first step, now it's up to the Afghan teachers to do their best."

The school will educate students from 10 villages.

During the inauguration, Italian army Col. Anthony Inturri, Herat PRT commander, said the new school represents a step forward for the training of Afghanistan’s children, who are the future of the country.

U.S. service members from U.S. Forces-Afghanistan Detachment West were present for the inauguration, and expressed optimism for the school’s potential.

"I hope these kids have the opportunity to receive a good education, the same I hope will happen every day for my children," said U.S. Army Col. Ricardo Ramirez, USFOR-A Det. West commander.

The Head of Department of Economy, members of the Provincial Council, and a representative of the Governor of Herat also attended the inauguration.