TİKA Remains Supportive of Education in Afghanistan

The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) built a 16-classroom school in Northern Afghanistan. Located in Faryab Province’s village of Surkh Bazar, all equipment needs of the school were also provided by TİKA.

Surkh Bazar Village in Qurghan, one of biggest districts of the Faryab Province, lacked a school building and the children had to receive their education in rented houses, in half collapsed rooms without doors or windows, on bricks. TİKA was the first to respond to the educational challenges faced by the people. Constructed by TİKA in compliance with the standards, the two-storey school consisting of 16 classrooms and 4 administrative rooms has become a beacon of hope for the children of the region

Surkh Bazar Primary School, which was built and equipped by TİKA was opened with a ceremony. The ceremony was attended by Faryab Province Deputy Governor Abdul Muqeem Rasih, R.T. Mazar-i-Sharif Consul General Mustafa Erdeviren, TİKA Mazar-i-Sharif Coordinator Zeki Bulduk, Deputy Head of the Provincial Council Aaq Mohammad Noori, Faryab Provincial Education Deputy Director Mohammad Yasin Arsalan, Qurghan District Governor Dr. Mohammad Ibrahim Tinmez, district governors from Andkhoy, Qaramqol and Khan Char Bagh districts, security officials, invited guests, teachers and students.

Faryab Province Deputy Governor Abdul Muqeem Rasih gave the opening speech at the ceremony and pointed out the old friendship and brotherhood between Turkey and Afghanistan, and said that Turkish people always stood by Afghan people’s side with their support during difficult times. Noting Turkey’s great contributions to Afghanistan’s development and progress, Rasih cited Surkh Bazar Primary School that was being inaugurated as one of the greatest examples of this.

Rasih expressed how generous Turkey was by always helping those in need and thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Turkish public with gratitude.

In his speech, R.T. Mazar-i-Sharif Consul General Mustafa Erdeviren emphasized that a country’s development depends on its education and stressed that education must be encouraged without gender discrimination. Erdeviren pointed out that Turkey had built nearly 100 schools in Afghanistan via TİKA and that Turkey’s contributions will continue.

TİKA Mazar-i-Sharif Coordinator Zeki Bulduk gave some brief information on the project of the Surkh Bazar Primary School located in Qurghan District of Faryab Province and stated that all the equipment in the school was provided by TİKA. Coordinator Bulduk shared his belief that qualified individuals will be trained in Surkh Bazar School and wished good fortune and good luck to the people of the region. In addition, school bags were gifted to the students during the opening ceremony.

Qurghan is one of the lesser developed districts of Faryab Province and it is located close to Turkmenistan to the west and close to Aqina border gate to the north. It has a population of more than 100,000 people.  Qurghan District has less schools compared to other districts. It has a high population of young people but the number of educated individuals is low. The people in the region earn their living mostly through livestock and carpet weaving.