Habibullah Agha, the acting Minister of Education, said during the stone-laying ceremony for 17 schools in Paktika province that the current salaries of teachers are insufficient and he will discuss this issue with the leader of the Islamic Emirate.

During the ceremony, the acting minister also mentioned that acquiring modern and religious education is a societal need, and the Islamic Emirate is committed to improving quality and providing facilities in this regard.

Habibullah Agha said: "One is religious sciences, and the other is modern sciences. Religious sciences are the purpose of our lives, and God has created us for religion. We also need modern sciences. I give this example of water [referring to a bottle of water], the human body needs water, and if it does not drink, it faces death due to dehydration."

In another part of his speech, without mentioning the reduction and suspension of female teachers' salaries, he said: "Regarding salaries, I am trying and will share this issue with the Amir al-Mu'minin and I intend to make a separate proposal to the Amir al-Mu'minin for raising teachers' salaries."

These schools are being built in Sharan, the center, and fifteen districts of Paktika province with the cooperation of the people of Japan and the participation of the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

Meanwhile, the residents of Paktika and several students expressed happiness about the construction of these schools and also asked the officials to take more steps to strengthen the education system in this province.

Naveed Agha, a student in Paktika, said: "We were studying under the sunlight, and we are happy that a school building is being constructed for us."

Kala Khan, a resident of Paktika, shared his view on the construction of these schools: "In these twenty years, no opportunity was provided for us, and we ask the Minister to pay more attention to Paktika than other provinces."

The acting Minister of Education also added that the Islamic Emirate is committed to balanced development and strengthening education throughout the country and will address the existing challenges in this sector.