Graduation of students from preparatory education
Mustafa Rahimi is 15 years old and expected to join public school along with 176 other colleagues. He is blind and has completed a two-year education at the Disability Program, Rehabilitation Center supported by Swedish Committee for Afghanistan in Balkh province. He says: “I thought I could never go to school again, but eventually this dream come true. I will join a public school this year, which was my dream of life. Disability can’t stop my education. I was the fifth grade in public school when I become blind and I thought that I could not go to school anymore. Now I have learned Braille and will go to public school.”
Mazar Regional Management Office conducted graduation ceremony for students from Preparatory Education from Balkh, Samangan and Jawzjan provinces. In a ceremony which is conducted in Balkh Province, Bashir Ahmad Tawhidi, Deputy Governor of Balkh, representatives of education department from three provinces, head of Martyrs and Disabled from Balkh and Samangan, head of MRMO, members of associations with disabilities and families of the children attended the ceremony.
Bashir Ahmad Tawhidi, Deputy Governor spoke in the ceremony and said: “Disabled people are the most vulnerable people in the society and today we are witnessing the completion of the children education which will be introduced to public schools. This is a valuable step and I appreciate the efforts of the Swedish Committee. My request from the authorities of education department to do not hesitate any support for these children in public schools.”
Meanwhile, Najibullah Yazdanpanah, Head of MRMO for Swedish Committee emphasized on joining the students in public schools and said: “The Swedish Committee for Afghanistan is committed to his support in northern provinces and try to provide services based on the strategic plan for disabled people. These students completed a three years education in preparatory centers of Swedish Committee and they are ready to join public schools. The process of education for children with disabilities will continue.”
He also added: “This year, a total of 177 students graduated from preparatory centers and 110 are boys and 67 of them are girls.”
The process for joining the disabled children in public schools in the north started in 2010 and still 1845 graduated from preparatory centers and joined the public schools in which 734 of them are girls and 1120 are boys.
The inauguration ceremony had media coverage.