NOORISTAN MOUNTAIN SCHOOL
Since education is critical to Afghanistan’s future, the Foundation decided in 2009 to respond positively to a request for financial help from the Nooristan Mountain Schools (NMS), an Afghan NGO that establishes schools in Nooristan province which has very few educational facilities. With our support, NMS launched a primary school for some 70 girls and boys in Pasigam village in the northernmost part of the province. Our help has covered salaries for the teachers, rent, school supplies and other administrative expenses. The school’s operations have been coordinated with the Afghan Ministry of Education so that after several years of satisfactory functioning it can be incorporated into the government primary school system.
We maintain regular contact with Mr. Abdul Bari Haider, the head of NMS. In July 2010, Vice President Mariam Nawabi consulted with him in Kabul about plans for constructing a permanent school building to replace rented quarters. In January 2011, President Marie Kux and Vice President Dennis Kux met Mr. Haider to review and firm up the plans for the building project. We are providing NMS with the funds for purchase of building material and necessary equipment. The Pasigam village council has given the land and will provide free labor to build the school. Construction is slated to start this spring (2011) and should be finished by the end of the summer.
In order to ensure quality teaching, Mr. Haider and the Kuxes also met with Mrs. Sakeena Jacoobi, renowned educator (a Nobel Prize nominee) and head of the Afghan Institute of Learning. Mrs. Yacoobi very generously agreed to provide free intensive professional training for seven teachers, two of whom are women. The Foundation covered the travel and lodging costs for the teachers and training course took place in February before the opening of the new school year.
