Students of the Vocational School for the Blind in the western Herat province celebrated World White Cane Day. They complained about the lack of facilities, resources, and the shortage of experienced teachers in their school.
“Roshandilan Vocational High School in Herat is facing many problems; including the shortage of teaching materials, teachers and equipment that are necessary for the blind during teaching”, Farzad, a student told Kabul Now.
He says that despite all these limitations, he is determined to fight these challenges and continue studying.
Afsana Ahmadi, another student of the school for the visually impaired people, askes the Taliban government and aid agencies to address their problems. “We don’t have many expectations and demands. Our only desire is for our school to be paid attention to”, she said.
Meanwhile, Mawlawi Naeem-ul-Haq Haqqani, the director of Herat Information and Culture Department of the Taliban, says that the government of this group provides all facilities for the blind like other parts of the society.
The Taliban Directorate of Martyrs and Disabled in Herat also says that they are trying to provide facilities for the blind.
Abdulbari Akhundzadah, department head of the Taliban Martyrs and Disabled in Herat, said that this department has helped disabled people with 267 million Afghanis last year. According to the figures published by the Taliban Directorate of Martyrs and Disabled in Herat province, about 18,664 people with disabilities have been registered in this province, where 500 of those people are blind.
World White Cane Day was recognized on October 15, 1964, to raise awareness of how visually impaired people in America can walk.
Six years later, this occasion turned into a worldwide event.
Afghanistan celebrated this occasion for the first time in 2011 and it has been celebrated in recent years as well. This year, under Taliban rule, it is doubtful if the occasion is going to be celebrated.
