Public education in Afghanistan began in the early 20th century with the establishment of schools for males and females. Over subsequent decades, enrollment increased but was disrupted by periods of war and Taliban rule from 1996-2001, which banned female education and closed most schools. Since 2001, enrollment has increased significantly, though challenges remain such as lack of school buildings, shortages of teachers, and attacks on education personnel, with female education rates still lagging behind males, especially in rural areas. Recommendations to address these issues include increasing funding, teacher salaries, literacy programs, and school construction to improve access to quality education across Afghanistan.

1. History & State of Public Education
Prepared by: Moonzajer
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6.  Kabul Habibia School 1904 (Male), Asmat School 1921(female). – Ministry of
Education 1922.
 1964 Constitutions (Zahir- Compulsory).1969 Y 600,000 students. Literacy
campaign 1968, 25 % Men & 5 % women.
 1976 (Dawood), every year 18,000 literate, national wide campaign
1986(Najib) world literacy day Medal and diploma by UNESCO.1989 Gross
Enrolment Ratio (GER )54% boys, 12 % girls.
 1992-1996 Islamic state and civil war -
 1996-2001, Taliban and northern alliance 95-98 % schools, infrastructures. 5
million fled to Pakistan & Iran- primary schools students 90,000 in Refuge
camps by NGOs.
 1996-2001 , 100 NGOs closed up, female banned. Funds decreased 22 % to 0.3
%. GER 39 boys, 3 girls.
History 1904-2001
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7. Developments & Improvements 2001-2011
• 4.3 million Students enrolled in grades 1–12, in 2003. The largest in the history of
Afghanistan.
• By 2004 there were 200 % more school buildings and 500 percent more teachers
than two years before.
•Currently 2,744 schools are active in 20 (out of 34) provinces. Over 27,000
teachers, 36% of whom are women. 9 million textbooks have been distributed for
grades1-12.
•Only 12 percent of girls get a primary education whereas it is 47 percent of all boys.
12 % literate women, with 21 % men totally 17.5 % literate.
•In rural areas where 74 percent of all Afghans live, however, an estimated 90
percent of women and 63 percent of men cannot read, write and do a simple math
computation
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8. Challenges and constraints
•2008 - 670 attacks on the Afghan education system, Between January 2006 and
December 2008, 1153 attacks on education personnel. 230 people died as a result
of (2006-2008)
•651 schools were closed in southern provinces; 141 teachers and students were
killed since beginning of the year; and 173,000 students dropped out off schools
103 teachers, principals, (January 2006 and April 2008)
•In 2003 the Asian Development Bank 80% of all school buildings are destroyed.
Afghans do not see an incentive for becoming teacher.
• as out of 12081 schools, 68 percent do not have surrounding walls,
•16000-20000 ghost teachers 2006 by Oxfam
•Physical Punishment by teachers
•Children, easily become a target for Taliban and warlord recruitment efforts.
•Female still in most of provinces are not allowed 8
due to many reasons.

9. Recommendations
•Establish a High Commission for National Literacy Strategy; Establish National
Literacy Centre; Develop a national implementation/operational plan for literacy.
Literacy textbooks, teacher’s guidebooks.
•Train provincial and district master trainers ,recruit literacy teachers; Provide learners
with basic supplies for literacy classes;
•Literacy program of the Ministry no development budget, total amount of funding
education sector in 2007 USD 389.31 million, 4,6 million was allocated for the literacy
program .
•Permanent and contracted literacy facilitators get USD 60 per month, should be
increased. cover 60% of women in its literacy program -upgrade their pedagogical
skills
•Most school buildings are damaged or destroyed. Schools need to be built or repaired
•Disabled children. Both the war and land mines special classes.
•60000 “Street Children”, 30% of Street Children are girls. Most Street Children are
from 7-16 years old
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10. References
1. National Report on the Situation of Adult Learning and Education, Islamic Republic of
Afghanistan Ministry of Education April 2008
2. Millennium Development Goals, Dr. Nadira Hayat, Deputy Minister of Public Health
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Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan – 19-20 July, 2007
3. Education in Afghanistan, A Requirement for Assuring Security and Development, Rana
Deep Islam, No. 21 ∙ November 2007
4. Education and the Role of NGOs in Emergencies: Afghanistan 1978-2002, Hassan
Mohammed- August 8, 2006
5. THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION IN AFGHANISTAN’S RECONSTRUCTION,
Michael Riley, May 14, 2009, The Johns Hopkins University
6. Knowledge on Fire: Attacks on Education in Afghanistan, Risks and Measures for
Successful Mitigation, September 2009- Marit Glad
7. The Current Situation of Basic Education in Afghanistan, Torpekai Sultani ,Kibou
no Gakko, Japan
8. http://www.uis.unesco.org/ev.php?ID=4959_201&ID2=DO_TOPIC

11. Thanks
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