February 21, the first crop of courses organised by Teacher Training Centre held graduation event in Chaghcharan, capital of Ghowr, province of Afghanistan protected by the Lithuanian-led Ghowr PRT.
Together with around 180 graduates of the course, representatives of local administration, several hundred of invited guests, Head of PRT's Civilian Component Linas Linkevičius and Chief of Staff of PRT-10 Lt. Col. Artūras Jasinskas.
Governor of Ghowr Sayed Mohammad Eqbal Munib congratulated the graduates and said that educated people are able to contribute their knowledge and skills to development and fundamental rearrangements of their country.
Other guests of the event expressed joy that people of Afghanistan seek education despite poverty and hard conditions and also expressed a wish that local government would pay more attention to education, and give more support to institutions of education and science.
Head of Civilian Component of the Lithuanian-led PRT L. Linkevičius emphasized the meaning of local population's support to implementation of governmental education programmes.
Currently there are two Teacher Training Centres open in Chaghcharan and Lal-va-Sar Jangal regions of Ghowr province. The latter entered into operation as late as spring of 2009. There are 80 present and future teachers studying at the Teacher Training Centre of Lal-va-Sar Jangal, and about 370 students, including representatives of local administration, in Chaghcharan.
Lithuania supports development of education sector of Ghowr. In 2006-2009 Lithuania financed implementation of Community Based Education Programme, and construction of 19 schools in Ghowr. In 2009 Lithuania supported Teacher Training Centres of Chaghcharan and Lal-va-Sar Jangal. Financing was provided for installation of quarters, buying furniture, and means of learning.
Lithuanian-led PRT headquartered in Chaghcharan, the capital city of Ghowr, took up responsibility for security in the province in June 2005. PRT is a joint military-civilian mission operating under International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).Its main task is to help Afghan Central Government extend its authority in the province, and to ensure security and environment for civilian activities.
Together with around 150 of Lithuanian military and civilian personnel representatives of Denmark, Georgia, Japan, the USA, Croatia, Romania, and Ukraine, including Lithuanian Special Mission, United States Department of Defence, and USAID, work in Ghowr. PRT-10 currently providing security in Ghowr is formed on the basis of the 1st Territorial Unit of the NDVF Dainava Military District.
Information of PRT-10. Pictures by Lt. Col. Oleksii Kashtaliar: Head of Civilian Component of the PRT Linas Linkevičius, and other participants.
