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USAID/Afghanistan: From the American People

Education

Objective: Increasing access to quality education and suitable learning environments

Program FAQs

How many schools has USAID built in Afghanistan?

As of October 2008, USAID has built or refurbished 680 schools across Afghanistan in conjunction with the Ministry of Education.

How many children are enrolled in school?

School enrollment is at its highest in Afghanistan’s history.  Currently, there are approximately six million students in school, with an estimated 35% being girls.  The number of girls currently enrolled in school exceeds the total school enrollment under the Taliban – there were 900,000 students enrolled in school under the Taliban and now there are over two million girls in school.  However, according to the Ministry of Education, approximately five million school-aged children remain out of school.

How much has USAID spent on education programs to date?

Between 2002 and 2007, USAID invested $342 million in education projects in Afghanistan, and spent an estimated $66 million in 2008.  The U.S. invested this money to expand access to basic education by training teachers, constructing and rehabilitating schools, distributing supplies, and offering accelerated learning programs to out-of-school youth, particularly girls, who were denied an education under the Taliban.  USAID is also supporting higher education and non-formal literacy and productive skills education for both youth and adults, as well as supporting capacity development for Afghanistan’s Ministry of Education.

What are the goals of the literacy program announced by former First Lady Laura Bush in Paris?

In June 2008, former First Lady Laura Bush announced a program that combines basic education (literacy and math skills) with business skills and financial assistance to help Afghanistan’s poor to expand their economic opportunities, particularly in rural areas.  USAID has promised $40 million to the five-year project, with an additional $22.3 million offered from the Afghan Ministry of Education, UN-HABITAT, and partners.  A memorandum of understanding was signed by representatives of the Ministry of Education, USAID, and UN-HABITAT on October 15, 2008.

The program will build the capacity of Afghanistan’s National Literacy Center (formerly the Women’s Teacher Training Institute) to implement new teaching methods and materials designed to assist adult learners nationwide.  In addition to teaching basic literacy and math, this project will provide training in business and vocational skills, helping people to find employment and lift themselves out of poverty.

USAID currently projects that over the program’s five-year span, it will reach 312,000 people, 60% of whom will be women. The program will be active in 3,120 communities in 20 provinces.

What is the current status of USAID’s engagement with the American University of Afghanistan (AUAf)?

USAID was a founding donor for AUAf, and continues to work with the university to provide Afghan students with high-quality educational opportunities. By the end of 2008, nearly 350 students had enrolled. USAID has provided support to the university in two ways:

  • USAID provided $17.7 million to AUAf through the Asia Foundation. 
  • In June 2008, former First Lady Laura Bush announced a new grant of $42 million to be disbursed over five years.

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Education

USAID’s education strategy is designed to support basic education, higher education, and literacy combined with productive skills training for out of school youth and adults.

FY02-FY06 ED Spending: $281 M
FY07 ED Budget: $62 M
(incl. supplemental request)

Accomplishments

Basic Education

  • 5+ million students enrolled in school according to 2006 Ministry of Education data, vs. 900,000 under Taliban

Accelerated Learning (APEP/AL)

  • Over 150,000 students completed the accelerated learning program, a nearly 90% completion rate; girls constitute 55% of students who completed the program 

  • 10,400+ teachers were trained to conduct accelerated learning program

Capacity Building

  • 65,000+ teachers trained via radio
  • A cadre of education advisors working with counterparts at Ministry of Education and Ministry of Higher Education to strengthen planning, management and evaluation of teacher education
  • Established International School of Kabul, K – 12 American style grade school
  • Established a 4 year liberal arts university, American University of Afghanistan

School Construction

  • Over 670 schools constructed and/or refurbished as of August 2007

Teaching Materials

  • 60+ million grade school textbooks printed (08/07)

Non-Formal Education

  • Established Women’s Teacher Training Institute (WTTI) 
  • Established a cadre of  literacy trainers
  • Developed literacy-related materials that can be used nation-wide
  • 9,200+ literacy learners trained in 190 villages in five provinces
  • 850+ self-help savings groups initiated, of which 420+ were women's groups
  • 200+ community banks formed and lending within their own communities

Last updated November 16, 2009

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