B*N*S*N3

Military stabilisation team help children back to school in Musa Qal'ah

A Military Operations news article

17 Mar 10

As Musa Qal'ah begins to stabilise, local children are getting the chance of an education thanks to the British forces' Military Stabilisation Support Team (MSST) who have been helping refurbish schools in and around the town.

An Afghan boy inside the school in Musa Qal'ah district centre, a building that, two years ago under Taliban control, lay derelict and empty
[Picture: SSgt Will Craig, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

Musa Qal'ah was not so long ago considered the most dangerous place in Helmand. But the school in Musa Qal'ah district centre, a building that two years ago lay derelict, is now full of children playing football and other playground games.

The MSST have provided the support for local contractors to bring the schools in and around Musa Qal'ah up to a suitable condition for educating children.

The upgraded school in the town centre now has its own water tower, provided by the employment and development programme of the MSST. This gives the school its own dedicated water supply.

Lieutenant Colin Boud, Royal Navy, Officer Commanding of the MSST in Musa Qal'ah, said:

"We have provided the desks and chairs for the schools. Initially we supplied the stationery for them but over time the Afghan Ministry of Education have been able to take over that role.

A teacher addresses the class during a lesson at a Musa Qal'ah school
[Picture: SSgt Will Craig, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

"It's been a learning process for the school management, looking ahead and planning for the school's future requirements.

"There have been occasions when the school has run out of text books or other items of stationery; it's at these times when we have gone back to help them out."

Warrant Officer Class 2 Michael Bates, the Second-in-Command of the MSST, added:

"We have just refurbished the schools in Yatenshir and Minden. Before this there was no education in these areas; now there are approximately 700 children attending these schools.

"They are thriving and proving very successful."...

Front page news on msm? Not so much, but you can read the rest here.