CARE calls for quality education for all – girls included
Great achievements have been made in the education sector in Afghanistan. However, more must be done to ensure that girls are not excluded from education. Currently, only 35 percent of enrolled children are girls. And, despite overall increase in numbers of enrolled children, the percentage of female students is not increasing.
This week, the world celebrates Global Action Week as part of the Global Campaign for Education. Under the theme ‘Quality Education for All: End Exclusion Now!’ Afghan students will participate in a world record attempt together with millions of other school children around the world: Everybody taking the same lesson at the same time about the importance of quality education and the negative impacts exclusion from education has on people’s lives. Children with disabilities, sensory impaired, ethnic minorities, children living in remote areas and even girls are missing out throughout the world.
Free and quality education for all is a principle of the Afghan constitution. However, lack of female teachers, cultural aspects, and widely spread practices of boys-only schools are some of the factors that are currently keeping girls out of school.
In Afghanistan only 28% of all teachers are female, with the majority of them located primarily in urban areas. This inhibits girls’ participation in education, as parents are reluctant to have teenage girls being taught by a male teacher. Likewise, parents are hesitant to send their girls to schools if they are far from their homes.
‘However, the challenges to girls’ education can be overcome while respecting cultural principles’ says Jamie Terzi, Assistant Country Director of CARE. CARE, in partnership with International Rescue Committee (IRC), Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS), is currently providing community based education to 45,000 children in remote areas in 17 provinces where there are no Ministry of Education formal schools. Two-thirds are girls. ‘One way to increase female enrolment is to discuss the importance of education under Islam with girls’ parents’ she says.
Lack of funding is a constant challenge to the education sector, thus effective spending is fundamental in order to reach as many children as possible. Currently, one-third of the Ministry’s schools are only for boys thus denying access to girls. Community-based education projects therefore need to focus on girls to fill the current gaps. However, assuring that existing schools are open to all students will save government and donor money. ‘Simple steps, such as discussions with village shuras, mullahs, and parents can lead to changes in the name of a school, include a wall or an alternate schedule for boys and girls’ the Terzi continues. Girls and boys can in this way go to the same school but still be taught separately in accordance with cultural practices.
‘We encourage the Government of Afghanistan and its donors to implement more cost-effective measures to overcome obstacles to girls’ education in order to ensure that all Afghan children get the education promised by their constitution’ Terzi concludes.
Ismailimail 