Afghan Refugees Schools in Pakistan

by Farzana Nazli
(Peshawar, Pakistan)

I want to make a documentary about Refugees Education Program (REP) in Pakistan. There are 15 schools located at different areas in Khyber Pukhtoon Khwa, with an enrollment of about 10000 students from grade 1-12. Previously this program was funded by An American Organization.

As the fundings stopped on September 30, 2010, the whole program was handed over to a local Pakistani Organization without any source of financial support. If the UNHCR has allowed the refugees to stay in Pakistan till December 2010, then who will take care of their Health and Education. Now under the umbrella of only this program, 10000 students are at risk of begging, stealing, taking guns, drugs and involving in child labor.

Through this documentary, the program wants to show the world about the serious problem resulted in the closure of the schools.

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Sep 08, 2017
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Interested in Connecting
by: Anonymous

Farzana,

My graduate research is focused on these very issues, specially Afghan refugees access to education in Pakistan, and I would love to collaborate on this. I have worked in the educational development space in Pakistan as well. Get in touch with me at gm2669@columbia.edu

Hope to hear from you soon.

Dec 06, 2016
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I want to make documentary on it
by: Imran Khan

I want to make a documentary on it please tell me anyone is these schools still exist ???

Aug 19, 2014
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how i can bring a school in attock pakistan
by: Muhammad Anwar Watendost

yeah i want to bring a school in attock city by help of you if you want this please help me and contact in this number 00923115418884

Mar 26, 2012
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why not for Afghans in ISB and Rawalpindi
by: S L (voluntier)

As i read about the support of some local and international organization for Afghan refugee schools in KPK i would respectably want to ask from those humanitarian organizations that why no support for school which are located in Islamabad and specially for those poor and needful students of Afghan refuges in Rawalpindi who are working in vegetable market from morning and studying beside that. i personaly would like to request that please Help these needful people .

Oct 26, 2010
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Afghan refugee program
by: N.Rehman

Well i do not have any experience in documentary making....but i can just suggest that Pakistan has very meager resources and it cannot handle the expenses alone so the foreign nations should provide financial assistance to them.secondly,its well accepted fact that education is the driving force for running a socially,morally and economically better society.so i strongly feel that at-least education programs should not be stopped.every body should have easy access to education including afghans

Oct 22, 2010
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Afghan Refugee Education in Pakistan (DOCUMENTARY)
by: Humayun Gul

Dear All if any one has any experience in making Audio-Visual Documentaries or film making especially in around Peshawar. Kindly come forth and share your comments because that is what is required here and not laymen views on socio-political impacts of refugees.

Oct 21, 2010
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Educating afghans?
by: nadeem

nice thoughts proud boy...its really appreciated, but bro i my self live in Peshawar, a huge nest of afghan refugees, so i better know what they are and how they are...they live about more then 30 years in Pakistan, they eat here, earn here, even they offspring grows here, but they still call their self afghani, Pakistan give them life, wealth, honor every thing in short, but if u call them to be united for Pakistan, they oppose, they always did like Afghanistan was the 1st country who was the 1st who was against the creation of Pakistan, and up to till now. they cud never be loyal to this country. they were afghanies, they are and they will be... and if you look in a broader aspect, you will come to know how much unemployment has been created by these afghanies. who is responsible for law and order unbalance condition in Pakistanis, its better u shud thoroughly read the history before giving hands to afghans...
here the topic is about educating afghans,, well am not against it...education shud be for all, but with in their countries. afghan in Afghanistan and Pakistani in pakistan. it wud be gud if they get their own individualitiy and they return to their own country...they are parasites and feeding on pakistan...a burden on pakistani economy, so if they shud be educated in their own country and afghan economy take that responcability or UN, then it wud be better according to my point of view.if they become educated in their own country, then afghanistan will get the fruit, coz they will work their, education is not just to get a degree, its to know about a culture and a society, so what will be their future if they niter know about the culture and social life of pakistan nor their own country.. UN shud Think about it, they shud educate people but with in their country.

Oct 21, 2010
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Disaster will happen if Afghans leave Pakistan
by: Proud Pakistanie boy

The one who replied to my comment, I think you should read some history of Pakistan first my brother and some news, and then you will understand how much positive and great changes happened in Pakistan after Afghans occupied it. And I believe that we should talk based on realities and logical judgement, we should not talk based on spite and jealousy my brother. today whatever we are is because of these modern Afghan people. think about it.

Oct 20, 2010
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There will be no disaster if afghan go back
by: Anonymous

i am not saying that don't educate afghans they should be but in Afghanistan even i am not getting you proud boy.is this not a realty that if they go back (once the afghanies go back to there country all the problems and issues will be settle down
) you are right but on wrong trike afghan have given many things to Pakistan but that is klashinkoof culture ,heroin kidnaping etc, Pakistan has facing Kalashnikov culture ,heroin kidnaping etc because of afghans.and there will be no human disaster in Pakistan if afghan leave but every thing will be OK in Pakistan and Afghanistan.afghans here are not in their own home so its too easy to destroy some one else home and if they go back to their home they will be peaceful because no one want to destroy their own home.if that nice and good act toke pale want peace and also peace in Afghanistan.

Oct 20, 2010
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Afghan Refugee Education in Pakistan (making the documentary)
by: Humayun Gul

The Afghan Refugee Education Program in Pakistan rightfully requires a detailed documentary that should recognise and highlight their problems and difficulties. Success stories and case studies of achievements in the Program, the SMC network and schools should be put to the audience and readers. All schools, 15 in total, should be presented through school wise profiling that should include class rooms and facilities, teachers, mentors and trainers as well children profiles and backgrounds. These teachers and children should be interviewed or questioned for comments on individual impacts and implications on their lives and careers if their education is funded or not funded. Their hopes and fears and their intentions and preparation for repatriation and reintegration into their own society requires to be evaluated and presented through this documentary. As the webmaster suggested lets comment on what could this documentary have then picturing our own speheres of references.

Oct 20, 2010
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Disaster will happen if Afghans leave Pakistan
by: Proud Pakistanie boy

For God's sake, stop saying that Afghans are a burden on Pakistan. They are by no means a burden. Think of the early Pakistan which almost got built up and modernized by these Afghans, otherwise Pakistan wouldn't have been a modern country like it is today. On the other hand, it is because of Afghans that the world look back at Pakistan and contribute a lot of money for its development to keep pakistan stay alive, otherwise, if Afghans leave Pakistan, then the country once again like before, would turn into a pure terrorist backwarded country. Just think about it and see how much we Pakistanies benefit from Afghans staying in our beloved country Pakistan. So please let's do whatever we can to have a lot of Afghans as permanent residents in Pakistan. Long live Pakistan.

Oct 19, 2010
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documentary filmmaking comments needed
by: Webmaster

Thanks to all who have made comments to this page.
We appreciate your input and lively discussion! This website is about documentary filmmaking. Please help us keep this website relevant to our visitors by discussing how this topic can best be told as part of a documentary film. Who should be interviewed? What kinds of questions? Where should the filming take place? Many thanks!

Oct 19, 2010
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sana is right
by: Yasmeen Mughul Peshawar

I agree with Sana.Afghans should be given good attractive packages in their homeland not in other country.that will be in the best interest of Pakistan, Afghanistan and rest of the world.otherwise if we keep them in pak it will create many unrecoverable problems for the whole world.then it will be impossible to cover the losses and issues raised by these refugees.let alone the issue of terrorism and its disastrous effects on pak image,nation and economy is well known to all of us.So the only solution is to give these refugees good facilities and attractive schemes and peaceful environment in their country Afghanistan.So that we Pakistanis,the afghan brothers and the whole world is happy and peaceful

Oct 19, 2010
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what for pak nation?
by: SANA

I respect your opinion humayun but can you tell me whats going on for our tribal brothers.....don't they deserve much attention then these afghanis.......there are millions of illiterate people compared to them 10,000 is not a big deal...........why not we work for our nation first??????i think one should first be patriotic and then think of others

Oct 19, 2010
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Afghan Refugee Education in Pakistan
by: Humayun Gul

Its not a matter of being on which side of the borders. This is a Humanitarian Situation and the Afghan Refugees like other displaced people have Humanitarian Rights. Their Children too have a Human Right to access quality education and live in dignity. There is no question that they should be recieving education in Afghanistan, but that would be possible after repatriation. Repatriation without a solution based livelihood and reintegration is meaningless as well as unjustified. Out of the 10000 children in the Refugee education program (REP) 65% are girls. Being a Pakistani, I am aware of the socio-economic implications but please note that it was Pakistan that took reponsibility of the Afghan War when it signed Geneva accords. We also do recognize that Pakistan has done much more than what is expected of anyone with regards to Afghan Refugees but this does not relieve us all (including UNHCR) of our obligation to support these Afghan Refugee children.

Oct 18, 2010
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Educate Afghans In Afghanistan
by: sana, peshawar

As far as education and other basic life necessities are concerned it should be provided to each and every person living on this earth and so to our afghan brothers and sisters as well……
But I don’t understand this all going on in Pakistan………its Pakistan not Afghanistan so all such facilities should be provided to them in their homeland not in the alien country
And we all know it well that afghan refugees are acting like parasites to Pakistan we can never deny this fact. So, the best option is to provide them all the basic facilities in their country not in a foreign country, say Pakistan. Pakistan is greatly affected by these refugees and they have given a big crash to the Pak economy……either we educate them here or not we cannot change their mentality and further there is no crystal clear program regarding the utilization of funds in Pak….so as far as my view is concerned I heartily believe in EDUCATION FOR ALL but it should be in their hometown. A vast program for their schooling should be launched in Afghanistan having all the basic facilities of good education If the authorities are really concerned wholly and solely regarding their education and nothing else.

Oct 18, 2010
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Great JOb by UNHCR (first step for return of afghan)
by: Anonymous

afghan should go back to Afghanistan why people want still a burden over Pakistan.for GOD sack let them go back and there is no need for them to be here.UNHCR should stop this

Oct 18, 2010
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Afghan Refugees Schools in Pakistan
by: Humayun Gul

Antonio Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, expressed himself to CNN saying that the people forced to displace or become refugees are mostly due to actions of the developed world. Therefore, it is also the developed worlds reponsibility to contribute greater funding support to create improved and dignified situations for the Refugees. Surely, UNHCR or any other agency concerned with safegaurding the rights of Refugees should come forward to support the Refugee Education Program. This still does not relieve us, only 37 US $ contribution can secure a conflict affected refugee child's education for a complete year. We need advocacy for UNHCR and more so ask our selves are we really doing/contributing enough for the cause of Afghan Refugees (in this particular case?

Oct 18, 2010
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stand for the rights of human being regardless of their nationality
by: Q

Afghans should benefit from all relevant opportunities until they exist in Pakistan and UNHCR should definitely support their rights to Education and every primary needs. This is the same for Pakistanies if refugee into another country. So please stand for rights of human being regardless of their nationality.

Oct 16, 2010
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Afghan Refugee Schools in Pakistan
by: Bushra

Not sure why UNHCR is doing this? what these kids will do if they are going to live till 2012 in Pakistan? No doubt soon we will find them in shopping centres, parking areas and other public spots either begging, looking for something to steal or selling sweets.
It looks like the same issue raised by American senator Charlie Wilson after the Afhgan Russia war.

Oct 15, 2010
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Matter of grave concern
by: Barkatullah Marwat

The handing over of Afghan Education Programme to Pakistani organization would definitely lead to what Ms Farzana Nazli, had pointed out. The US government should pay heed to the concerns of the employees and its interests in the region.

Oct 14, 2010
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Afghan Refugees Program
by: Tayyab Ur Rehman

The closure of Refugee Education program here in Pakistan will certainly harm society - which means from home to harm. It will certainly affect the growing minds immediately and surely generations in the long run. The decision was absolutely in the wrong direction and it may be called a "crime". The Education program is the driving force for the rest of programs. Those responsible for the decision should re-think about it. The other organizations should come forward and save the society from the most expected social disorganization .

Oct 14, 2010
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Afghan Refugee Schools in Pakistan
by: Humayun Gul

Yes! the Tripartite Agreement between UNHCR, Pak-Afghan governments permits Afghan Refugees to stay in Pakistan till Dec 2012. The 15 Afghan Refugee Schools (with 7 Camp Based Schools), the 10000 plus children and staff are conflict affected and are also extremely vulnerable at present. Delays in Funding support jeapordizes their future. This could create worrying situations for the Pakistanis, Afghans as well as the international community primarily due to reasons that Farzana Nazli has mentioned.

Oct 14, 2010
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a correction!
by: Anonymous

Afghan Refugees are allowed to stay in Pakistan till December 2012 NOT 2010. SORRY!

Oct 14, 2010
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Why will we care?
by: Webmaster

This may seem like a harsh question, but it's a very important question to ask if you are serious about making this documentary. They key question to ask yourself is this: "What is it that intrigues you about this story?" Really think about the people and situations that capture the true essence of the story you are trying to tell. Why will your audience care? Is there a particular person you can focus on that the audience can relate to? Perhaps it's the person who is lost the fight to bring in the funding. How can you capture the hopelessness, the human tragedy. Is there any way you can be there with a camera to document the deteriorating situation? Maybe that's siting in one location for a week, maybe that's following the life of one person or one family for one year.

This seems the beginnings of a compelling and award winning documentary. You just need to get to the heart of the matter, figure out where that moment will happen and capture that on your video camera. Please do check back with your progress. And please make this documentary. This sounds like a story the world needs to hear.

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