Kandahar local officials on Sunday raised concerns over the closure of a number of schools in the province. 

Officials at the education department said all schools are closed in Regestan, Ghorak and Shorabak districts due to security threats. 

Kandahar education department officials said efforts are underway to reopen the schools in these insecure areas. 

“In the current education year, we have spoken with armed opposition groups and they have assured us of cooperation and we hope that from the 120 schools that are closed, we will be able to open some of them,” said Nazar Mohammad Samimi, spokesman for the Kandahar education department. 

However, a Kandahar charity has said it will provide assistance to the Kandahar education department. 

“Students are the future of our country and they are our national asset and the rescue of students means the rescue of the country and we plan to set up hundreds of (tent) schools in different parts of Kandahar city for poor families,” said Sayed Ahmad Selab, the head of this organization.  

Both parents and students have been vocal about the closure of schools and have called for efforts to be made to improve the situation. 

According to the education, of a total 447 schools in the province, 120 are closed.