Story by: Sfc. Darren D. Heusel
KABUL, Afghanistan - So, just how important is education in a country that's increasingly taking its rightful place on the world stage?
Pretty high considering the turnout of the grand reopening of the Khoshal Khan Boarding School Jan. 15 in Kabul -- a scene that was reminiscent of a Hollywood premier.
On hand to commemorate the occasion were Maj. Gen. Abdul Karim Brahowee, minister of frontier and tribal affairs; Nagiba Sharif, deputy minister of women's affairs; and British Maj. Gen. Peter Gilchrist, deputy commanding general for Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan.
The school's reopening is the culmination of three months" worth of construction and $700,000 donated by the National Provincial Reconstruction Team, a civil affairs operation based in Kabul and belonging to CFC-A.
"We took on this project six months ago and got it funded using CERP(Commander's Emergency Relief Program) money," said Lt. Col. Curtis Kinnard, who headed up the project for the NPRT. "Now, this will have a significant impact on all the tribal students."
Kinnard said the grand reopening, which included a ribbon cutting and a tour of the facilities, is the result of months of careful planning and hard work -- 'something the management wanted to do to show their appreciation.
"This all started with the minister of frontier and tribal affairs contacting the National PRT," Kinnard said. "We came out, assessed the project and determined there was a need."
Khoshal Khan, the only school in Kabul that teaches its students in Pashtu instead of Dari, was established in 1948 for children of the Kuchi tribe, a nomadic people whose tribes are scattered throughout Afghanistan.
The Kuchi children attend school from March through December, while their parents travel the countryside allowing the families" livestock to graze.
Through the end of 2004, the school has catered to more than 5,000 students.
However, according to Minister Brahowee, more than two decades of war took its toll on the facility and the number of students was reduced to five.
Today, there are about 1,400 children attending the school and Minister Brahowee couldn't be more proud.
"The National PRT has provided a vital role in getting the school back up to par," Minister Brahowee said. "We can only hope they will support similar programs in the future and that it will lead to a brighter future for all Afghans."
Improvements to the school include the installation of electricity and running water, three newly remodeled dormitories with indoor bathrooms and showers on all three floors, 15 classrooms that can hold up to 80 students each, a library, administration building and dining facility.
Prior to the reconstruction, tents were used as temporary work spaces for kitchen and cafeteria workers.
Another marked improvement is indoor plumbing where before students had to use outdoor facilities.
Refrigerators and gas stoves in the kitchen replaced wood stoves, with the new cafeteria sporting tables and benches instead of long tables where the children used to stand to eat.
Donations of school supplies are also pouring in from all over the world.
Deputy Minister Sharif said the National PRT 'spared no expenses" for the renovation and hopes similar attention will be given to girls" schools throughout the country, "because they make up the other half of the community that makes up our civilization.
"Afghanistan has a lot of history," Deputy Minister Sharif said. "But if we truly want prosperity, we need to make education a priority throughout the country. Although education is a hard and tough process, fortunately, the government has put a special emphasis on education."
General Gilchrist said the reopening of Khoshal Khan is significant in that it marks efforts designed to continue assisting Afghan citizens to build a secure, peaceful and prosperous future.
"Our hope is that the Kuchi tribe, particularly the children, will quickly see a difference in their lives as a result," General Gilchrist said. "The concept of educational reform is crucial to the continued growth and success of Afghanistan."
The general went on to say the opening of the Kuchi tribal school represents a significant commitment by the government of Afghanistan and the U.S.-led coalition forces to enable, enhance and improve education for the Afghan children.
"The Kuchi tribe will have peace of mind, knowing their children are in a safe and secure environment as they follow their traditional nomadic livelihood," he said. "While the coalition continues to conduct operations to increase security and defeat terrorism, we must also focus on how we can improve the everyday lives of Afghan citizens.
"Every operation, whether combat or humanitarian, is crucially important in building an Afghanistan where every citizen has the opportunity to live freely in
peace. Our resolve must remain firm -- and we must never lose sight of our
ultimate objective -- a secure, stable and prosperous Afghanistan with freedom for all people."
Gilchrist said the grand reopening of the Kuchi tribal school is another step toward bringing stability and peace for Afghanistan and that "we must continue to work together to deliver a brighter future."
The Kuchi children are due to return to school March 21 and each one of them will no doubt dream about becoming a star in their own right.