Combined Joint Task Force 1 - Afghanistan
Elders from the Narang District greet Kunar Provincial Gov. Fazlullah Wahidi in the courtyard of the newly constructed Bar Narang School June 13. The governor was on hand for a ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new 300-student school, recently completed by the Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team. (Photo by U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Nicholas Mercurio)
KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Representatives from the Kunar provincial government joined Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team leadership in a ribbon cutting, officially opening the Bar Narang School in the Narang District, Afghanistan, June 13.
The Bar Narang School is the fifth school opened by the PRT in 2011 and marks one step closer to fulfilling the 50-school goal set by the PRT and Provincial Gov. Fazlullah Wahidi more than two years ago.
The Bar Narang School has 14 rooms, 10 of which are classrooms that can hold more than 300 students.
The school was built over the course of two years and carries a price tag of $220,000.
(Photo by U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Nicholas Mercurio)
“We will always remember your outstanding services,” he said.
Hidari said the leading cause of setbacks in Afghanistan’s development as a nation is the overall lack of education across the population.
“Organizations like this PRT provide us with the facilities to educate our children,” he said, “it now falls on us to make good use of them. Education will bring peace and stability to our homeland.”
The PRT commander, U.S. Navy Cmdr. Brian Goss of Annapolis, Md., showed he had made use of similar educational opportunities during his time in Kunar by delivering his remarks entirely in the province’s native Pashto.
“The Afghans are my brothers,” Goss said. “I have worked with your leadership every day to bring progress to Afghanistan. The enemies of Afghanistan see the progress and are too weak to stop it. Together we can build a brighter future for Afghanistan.”
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