New Education Director works for teacher’s pay

PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Members of the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment are working alongside Paktika’s provincial government to restore pay to about 100 Waza Khawa district public school teachers, many of whom have gone almost a year since their last paycheck.

According to Drescher, teachers from throughout the district have worked between eight and 11 months without pay.

Ehsan Ullah, assumed the mantle of Education Director of Paktika province in May after his predecessor was arrested for corruption, said Capt. Chris Drescher, Task Force Iron governance and development officer from Nyack, New York.
 

Since taking office, Drescher said, Eshan Ullah has been working to restore faith in his office by undoing some of the damage done by his predecessor, namely by tackling the pay problems in the Waza Khawa district.

Eshan Ullah began the process June when he flew to the Waza Khawa District Center to meet with Sub-Governor Mohamed Ramazan. Upon laying out his plans, Ehsan Ullah arranged to meet with the teachers who have not been paid and have them registered into the education system.

Ehsan Ullah will return to Sharana to process their registrations, the first step to get the teachers paid, said Drescher, who is helping to coordinate the process by arranging Eshan Ullah’s transportation and security.  This process takes about 25 days, he added.

“The teachers of Waza Khawa are excited to see a government representative finally show an interest,” said Drescher.  “Although the teachers were prepared to close the schools due to their lack of pay for so long, the efforts of Ehsan as their provincial education director have encouraged the teachers to keep the schools open.”

Officials from 3-187 IR said the restoration of pay will go a long way toward the restoration of faith in the provincial government.

“The teachers of Waza Khawa, Terwa, and Wor Mamay have been without pay for far longer than they should,” said U.S. Army Capt. Scott Harris, Executive Officer of C Company, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry, from Fayetteville, N.C.  “Getting their payments completed will be a huge victory for Governor [Moheebullah] Samim as well as Sub-Governor Ramazan.”