How did female principal transform a high school in Afghanistan?

Lailuma Khaliqyar, who is a female principal in an all-girl high school in northern Parvan province, has come a long way to change locals’ attitudes toward her job.  

Almost all students of Um-Salma High School in the northern Parvan province were least enthusiastic to continue and graduate high school before the appointment a new school principal. With a high dropout ratio, the crumbling Um-Salma girls’ school was losing students and the school environment looked inert to most students up until summer 2012.                 

In a sunny summer day of 2012, students lined up to welcome a new female principle in the male-dominated board of an all-girl school: Lailuma Khaliqyar. When she joined the board of Um-Salma High School, general perception about the future of her work at the school was less optimistic. Most locals were of the opinion that she, like her predecessor, would not be able to resist against threats posed by strongmen, but surprising to public perception, Lailuma Khaliqyar not only stood firm to run Um-Salma High School but also transformed it.