AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan, a nation devastated by wars for over 40 years, and its demolished infrastructure narrate the plight of around 4 million out-of-school children in the year 2021, while the literacy rate of the adult population remained at 43% in 2020. The majority of those affected are females, who account for 60% of the aforementioned figures, putting females at a distinct disadvantage, particularly in the worst-affected provinces of Kandahar, Helmand, Wardak, Paktika, and Zabul, where 85 percent of females are not attending school.
However, the war-stricken nation is not able to do much to help future generations dream and aspire, as the government’s expenditure on education is recorded at a total of 3.20% of GDP in 2019, while the figure for total government expenditure on education in 2020 is recorded at 10.20% of total government expenditure.
The ministry of education elucidates the misery, stating that more than 5,000 Afghan schools require buildings, boundary walls, and facilities for clean water and hygiene, whose renovation and construction appear to be a far-fetched idea with the current educational expenditure of the country.
Although philanthropic organizations such as the Malala Fund, one of Afghanistan’s active working units, are working hard to promote the idea of girl child education and have successfully raised and injected a fund of $1.9 million to date in partnership with local organizations, with the project being initiated in 2017.
Data states that Afghanistan’s out-of-school children population has reached levels not seen since 2002 as a result of the protracted conflict, and deteriorating security conditions nationwide, with pervasive gender discrimination, further unfolding its quandary.
“Business as usual is not an option for Afghanistan if we want to fulfill the right to education of every child,” says Adele Khodr, UNICEF Afghanistan representative.
“When children are not in school, they are at an increased danger of abuse, exploitation, and recruitment.” UNICEF Afghanistan
