3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division

Story by Lt.j.g. James Dietle

KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Education has become a key focus in Kunar province for the provincial reconstruction team, which has mapped out a construction plan estimated at $15.9 million to build 58 schools along the border in Afghanistan.

"The PRT believes education plays a vital role in rebuilding Afghanistan," said Lt. Cmdr. Rob Ross, the PRT engineering officer-in-charge.

The PRT inspected the groundwork for the first school in the Tornaou Village of the Chowkay District, June 2.

Located on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Kunar province is one of the most volatile areas in eastern Afghanistan. However, despite these difficulties, PRT Kunar has ambitiously planned to start the construction of the 58 schools before the end of 2009.

The Tornaou Village School holds a special significance to the members of PRT Kunar for several reasons.

"The Dewaygal Valley road was just completed in February and it has given us the chance to bring development further up the valley," Ross said. "We are continuing to build on our previous successes."

PRT Kunar has worked closely with the Kunar Department of Education and local district governors to prioritize the 58 locations where schools should be built to provide education for as many children as possible.

With each school housing around 300 students, the 58 schools to be built during the school surge are expected to bring education to almost 18,000 students in Kunar. The school at Tornaou is the first to be constructed.

"Right now, Kunar's education infrastructure is in need of some help. Many villages do not have school buildings within walking distances. It is not uncommon to see children studying under the village tree. Extremes in weather can easily prevent classes from being held in these unsheltered areas. With the construction of these new buildings, children will have a place to learn every day, rain or shine," Ross said.

Like all PRT projects in Kunar, a local Afghan construction company is contracted to build the Tornaou Village School. The company uses local labor from the village, which creates better job opportunities and allows villagers to show pride in their work.

Since rich farmland is scarce throughout the Dewagal Valley, the school will have a unique two-story design. This design minimizes the footprint of the school to save valuable land that is better suited for farming. When complete it will be the tallest building in the small village. Over 300 boys and girls will be able to receive primary education at the facility.

"By increasing education we can raise the quality of lives for these children and families. We look forward to the time when the children of Kunar will all have the chance to be engineers, teachers and doctors," said Cmdr. Murray J. Tynch, Kunar PRT commander.

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