School Education in Afghanistan

Abstract

This chapter provides a descriptive account of the current landscape of the schooling systems in Afghanistan. It documents a brief historical overview of the evolution of the education systems and the turbulent phases in this process as political, social, and cultural conflicts pose inescapable challenges to an effective system of schooling, particularly for girls. It outlines the formal levels of schooling from pre-primary to upper secondary levels and the preparation for entrance into higher and technical and further education. Informal and community-based schooling, including religious schools, are particularly important in provincial settings. Among the challenges for educators are the ongoing conflict and power struggles between stakeholders including the government, religious bodies, and community-based organizations, to shape the curriculum and schooling system in one of the world’s poorest nations. Access to education for families and communities especially in regional and remote provinces remains a major issue exacerbated by poverty, insecurity and corruption, attacks on schools, distance, dangers of travel, economic factors, concerns over the quality of education and teacher training, as well as cultural traditions that particularly inhibit the education of girls. Since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001, even with the problems of statistical verification, the number of students attending schools has risen dramatically. However, Afghanistan remains a fragile state with rising conflict between key power brokers impacting the provision of education as a basic human right for all.

Appendix 1: Constitutional Provisions on Education in Afghanistan: Historical Overview

Year	Constitution name	Articles on education
1923	Nizamnamah-ye-asasi-e-Daulat-e-Aliyah-e-Afghanistan	14,15 and 68	14: Every subject of Afghanistan has the right to an education at no cost and in accordance with the appropriate curriculum. Foreigners are not permitted to operate schools in Afghanistan but are not barred from being employed as teachers 15: All schools in Afghanistan are under the control, supervision, and inspection of the government which is charged with developing the scientific and national education of all citizens on the basis of unity and discipline but the methods and the teaching of the beliefs and religions of protected and refugee subjects (Hindus and Jews) shall not be interfered with. 68: Elementary education is compulsory for all citizens of Afghanistan. The various curricula and branches of knowledge are detailed in a special law and they will be implemented
1964	Constitution of Afghanistan	34	Education is the right of every Afghan and shall be provided free of charge by the State and the citizens of Afghanistan. The aim of the State in this sphere is to reach a stage where suitable facilities for education will be made available to all Afghans, in accordance with the provision of the law. The Government is obliged to prepare and implement a program for balanced and universal education in Afghanistan. It is the duty of State to guide and supervise education. Primary education is compulsory for all children in areas where facilities for this purpose are provided by the state. The State alone has the right and duty to establish and administer the institutions of public and higher learning. Outside this sphere, Afghan nationals are entitled to establish technical and literacy schools. Conditions for establishment of such schools, their curricula and the conditions of learning in such schools are to be determined by law. The Government may grant permission, in accordance with the provisions of the law, to the foreign persons to establish private schools for the exclusive use of foreigners
1976	The Constitution of The Republican State of Afghanistan	10	To ensure and to generalize compulsory primary education, to expand and develop general and vocational secondary education and higher education, free of charge, in order to train and form academic and technical cadres to serve the people
2004	The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan	43, 44, 17	43: Education is the right of all citizens of Afghanistan, which shall be offered up to B.A. level in the state educational institutions free of charge by the state. To expand balanced education as well as to provide mandatory intermediate education throughout Afghanistan, the state shall design and implement effective programs and prepare the ground for teaching mother tongues in areas where they are spoken 44: The state shall devise and implement effective programs to create and foster balanced education for women, improve education of nomads as well as eliminate illiteracy in the country 45: The state shall devise and implement a unified educational curricula based on the tenets of the sacred religion of Islam, national culture as well as academic principles, and develop religious subjects curricula for schools on the basis of existing Islamic sects in Afghanistan 16: From amongst Pashto, Dari, Uzbeki, Turkmani, Baluchi, Pachaie, Nuristani, Pamiri and other current languages in the country, Pashto and Dari shall be the official languages of the state. In areas where the majority of the people speak in any one of Uzbeki, Turkmani, Pachaie, Nuristani, Baluchi or Pamiri languages, any of the aforementioned language, in addition to Pashto and Dari, shall be the third official language, the usage of which shall be regulated by law. The state shall design and apply effective programs to foster and develop all languages of Afghanistan. Usage of all current languages in the country shall be free in press publications and mass media. Academic and national administrative terminology and usage in the country shall be preserved 17: The state shall adopt necessary measures to foster education at all levels, develop religious teachings, regulate and improve the conditions of mosques, religious schools as well as religious centres