The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has decided to dedicate the International Day of Education, which is celebrated annually on January 24th, to Afghan girls and women in 2023. The decision was made in recognition of the challenges faced by Afghan girls and women in accessing education, and the importance of their education for the development of Afghanistan.
Afghanistan has one of the lowest literacy rates in the world, with only around 30% of the population able to read and write. The situation is particularly dire for girls and women, with only around 12% of Afghan girls currently enrolled in primary school and only around 5% enrolled in secondary school. These low enrollment rates are due to a variety of factors, including poverty, lack of access to schools, and cultural barriers.
The dedicating of International Day of Education to Afghan girls and women is a significant step towards addressing these issues and promoting gender equality in education. The theme for the day will be “Empowering Afghan Girls and Women through Education” and it will be used to raise awareness about the importance of education for Afghan girls and women, as well as the challenges they face in accessing education.
UNESCO will be working closely with the Afghan government, NGOs, and other organizations to promote education for Afghan girls and women. This will include providing support for building schools and training teachers, as well as programs to increase enrollment and retention of girls in schools.
In addition to providing education for girls and women, UNESCO will also be working to improve the quality of education in Afghanistan. This will include providing teacher training and educational materials, as well as supporting research and innovation in education.
The dedicating of the International Day of Education to Afghan girls and women is a significant step towards improving education in Afghanistan and promoting gender equality. It will help to raise awareness about the importance of education for Afghan girls and women and the challenges they face in accessing it. It will also provide an opportunity for the international community to come together to support efforts to improve education in Afghanistan.