Afghan group to observe

Four Afghan university professors will visit Jay County High School Friday as part of a program to introduce them to American education culture.
The Afghan Junior Faculty Development Program, hosted by Purdue University, is a project of the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The eight-week program involves activities and seminars focusing on theoretical and practical topics.
Qudratullah Ahmadi, whose field is public health, Hossein Mohammadi, whose field is economics, Mohammad Hussain Issari, whose field is education, and Emal Wali, whose field is agronomy, will accompany Purdue agricultural education professor Dr. Allen Talbert to the high school.
“These young men are lecturers at their universities and have the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree,” said Jerry Peters, a Purdue agricultural education professor. “The goal is to provide them with a good solid knowledge base of higher education so that when they finish this program they can apply for and hopefully receive a Fulbright scholarship and hopefully work to a master’s degree in their specific disciplines.”
The Afghan faculty members will observe various classes at the high school to get a better grasp of American public education, according to Melissa Muhlenkamp.
“They haven’t had as much education as a lot of professors in the United States,” said Muhlenkamp, an agricultural science teacher at JCHS. “It gives them more of a background of how we do things and gives them things to take back with them so they can be better teachers in their own country.”
Peters said JCHS was chosen for its numerous agriculture-oriented programs.
“Jay County (High School) is an excellent school to go to,” he said. “The bulk of sustainability in Afghanistan is focused around agriculture.”
The school’s focus on agricultural programs would be a boon to the visiting faculty, he said.
Another reason for choosing JCHS as host for the visit stemmed from a visit made by Talbert who noticed the school’s potential while evaluating Muhlenkamp’s student teacher.
“Our facilities are very nice,” Muhlenkamp said. “He was very impressed with the school, the business-like atmosphere, wonderful facilities, teachers and students. It was a great example for them.”
The ECA developed the program as a result of increasing education needs in Afghanistan.
The war-torn country has seen a major increase in university enrollment from 25,000 to 62,000 since 2002.
Only 5 percent of faculty hold a doctorate and 31 percent hold a master’s.
Friday’s visitors, who have successfully undergone extensive Homeland Security background checks in light of the situation in Afghanistan, are part of the program’s second group of participants. Organizers are planning for another group in spring.
There’s no other program quite like it, Peters said.
“It’s one of a kind,” Peters said. “This is specifically designed for them. I know they’re anxiously awaiting the opportunity.”[[In-content Ad]]