Muaz bin Jabal primary and secondary school: improving the quality of education
Founded in 2008, the Muaz-Bin-Jabal secondary school is currently attended by 450 students. The school is located in the Paghman region in the mountains of Kabul province, where the majority of the population lives from agriculture. They are therefore particularly affected by the consequences of climate change, such as crop failures, increasing famine and economic losses. Since the Taliban came to power, their living conditions have deteriorated even further and child labor has increased.
Improving the learning conditions at the secondary school should help to create better future conditions and employment opportunities other than agriculture for the students.
At the Muaz-Bin-Jabal School, eight new classrooms, 10 latrines and a hand-washing facility are being built and equipped in collaboration with our local partner organization OHW. To promote the sustainable development of the school, additional training and workshops are offered to the school community to expand the range of specialist lessons and raise awareness of hygiene and health issues.
To tackle climate injustice and social challenges, we have teamed up with Tomorrow Bank and were able to be part of their Rounding Up feature. Together, thanks to your donations, we have already been able to secure a large part of the project’s needs.
INITIAL SITUATION
The secondary school is located in Paghmana region in the mountains in the province of Kabul. While the region is the destination ofwealthy elite from the capital, lives The clear majority of the population living therepopulation as simple farmers and farmers from agriculture. The people suffer especially under the klimitingn crop lossesnassociated economic lossesn losses and the famine crisiswhich are the takeover of ther Taliban 2021 and also through the cold winter have worsened dramatically. If the small harvesting at all beyond own requirements for sale, the purchasing power has collapsed to such an extent that they have no buyers for your products have more. Child labor to support the family situation is part of everyday life.
LACK OF LEARNING SUCCESS DUE TO EXHAUSTED CAPACITIES
The middle school, founded in 2008, comprises grades 1 through 9. Ten teachers currently teach 450 students, including 190 girls and 260 boys. Due to Taliban restrictions, 90 additional girls in grades 7 through 9 are currently unable to attend classes.
The school is housed in rented residential buildings that are not intended for educational purposes. Lessons already take place in two shifts and yet seven classes have to be taught outdoors due to a lack of space – even in extreme heat in summer and temperatures of up to minus 30 degrees in winter. The lack of space, the high noise level and the climatic conditions severely restrict the students’ concentration and ability to absorb information. This results in poor basic skills in reading, writing and mathematics, for example.
SOLUTIONS
Together with our local partner organization OHW, the Muaz-Bin-Jabal School is building a new barrier-free school building with eight new classrooms and equipped with the necessary furniture to create more space for the students. In addition, the site will a school garden and a playground for the pupils. In order to improve hygiene standards at the school, it is also receiving new, immaculate sanitary facilities – 10 new latrines and a hand-washing facility.
These infrastructure measures are accompanied by WASH (water, sanitation, hygiene) workshops for students and teachers to deepen their understanding of hygiene and health prevention. Furthermore, professional development courses for teachers aim to expand their subject-specific and pedagogical knowledge, thereby improving the quality of teaching.
In order to promote sustainable school structures, the School Development Council is to be strengthened by introducing regular meetings and electing members and representatives of the student body. In this context, workshops and seminars will be organized for the council, administrative staff and school management to support them in developing a sustainable school development plan and taking care of school issues in an independent and structured manner.
THE LOCAL PARTNER - OHW
OHW (Organization for Human Welfare) was founded in 2007 with the aim of providing humanitarian aid and promoting development cooperation for people in need in Afghanistan. The organization employs over 400 people, 120 of whom are women. Following the principle “by women for women”, they set a good example for the local communities. OHW can draw on successful and extensive project implementations, a strong network and local support to ensure feasibility in the fragile context of Afghanistan. We have also already worked successfully with them as part of the earthquake emergency aid reconstruction project in Herat.
ACHIEVEMENTS SO FAR
Construction in its final phase
The school building for 450 pupils is almost complete: the main structure, roofs, windows, doors and plastering work have been completed, and painting, furniture, playground and landscaping are currently underway.
New school building is growing
The new school building is taking shape! Construction work at the Muaz-bin-Jabal Primary and Secondary School has resumed since the winter break ended at the end of March – and there is visible progress: The foundation is complete, and the first walls of the new school building are now rising.
Foundation laid
Opening ceremony of the construction site
The official inauguration ceremony of the construction site, attended by local officials, village elders, the school administration, teachers and students, officially took place.
Official project launch
It is currently still winter break in Afghanistan due to the cold temperatures. This means that construction work cannot start yet, but our local partner organization is already starting the administrative preparations for the project.
