ARGHANDAB, Afghanistan – There is an old saying that knowledge is power and the Afghan Uniformed Police at the Arghandab’s Operational Coordination Center-District are trying to empower themselves by taking literacy classes.
“Education is very important because it is the only way the Afghan people are going to be able to take care of themselves,” said Lt. Col. Haji Naiz Mohammed Mujahed, Arghandab’s district chief of police.
For the past two months, Naiz has been organizing and working with the soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment , 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, to get the supplies, a classroom and a teacher arranged in order to hold the literacy class. The current class being taught is first grade and will run for eight weeks.
“I want my men to have education,” said Naiz. “It is important for them to be able to read and write.”
Currently there are 18 AUP attending the class.
“I like to learn,” said Najebullah, a patrolman who is attending the literacy class. “I know this will help me when I want to make sergeant.”
In order for the AUP to move up in rank and position, they must have completed the 12th grade.
“I am learning all of these books,” said Najebullah nodding toward the four books in his hand. “If they give me more books, I will learn those too.”
“My students are eager to learn,” said Masood, the teacher of the literacy class. “They are doing very well.”
Though this is the first step, Naiz has high hopes for his men.
He said, “These classes will educate my men and make them that much better to serve the people of Afghanistan.”