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Another attack on training centre for female teachers

November 8, 2004

On Wednesday 3 November an improvised explosive device exploded at SCA’s training centre for female teachers in Jalalabad. Only minutes earlier another device exploded at a USAID compound in the city. There were no casualties, but the explosions caused extensive material damage.

“The incident has not yet been properly investigated but it is likely that the people who attacked the training centre are linked to the taleban”, says Dr Shah Mahmood, deputy country director of SCA in Kabul.

In September the training centre in Jalalabad was hit by what was believed to be a misfired rocket, causing some damage to the building. “The difference this time is that the training centre was deliberately targeted. This is very worrying”, says Dr Shah Mahmood.

In the months leading up to the election, there were several attacks on SCA supported schools, mostly targeting venues for female students and teachers. All incidents took place at night or during holidays, which indicates that the attackers did not intend to hurt people. In many cases they were interpreted as a protest against the election process.

The Female Teachers Training Centre opened in Peshawar in 2001, during Taliban rule. In 2002, the centre was shifted across the border to Jalalabad. Female teachers from SCA supported and government schools are offered one month training courses in pedagogy and subject knowledge. The centre is unique and so far more than 500 female teachers have participated in the training. By supporting female teachers, SCA hopes to improve opportunities for girls’ education in Afghanistan. SCA currently supports over 400 schools with 260,000 students in the country. Over 30 % of the students are girls.

Windows and furniture was shattered when a stray rocket hit the training centre i Jalalabad in September