Across Afghanistan, hundreds of thousands of girls are not able to go to school due to the barriers set in place.

The Taliban's reign over Afghanistan made it illegal for girls to get an education and even after the fall of the Taliban in 2001, many girls are still not getting the education they deserve. Education in Afghanistan continues to be compromised in terms of access, condition, and gender equality. Since Afghanistan is a rural country, not many families have access to local schools, so going back and forth to school requires long walking distances and most of the schools they can find are in poor condition. Many schools report having a lack of infrastructure, clean water, sanitation facilities, and school supplies. It is estimated that more than 10 percent of the schools in Afghanistan are closed due to insecurity, warfare, and targeted destruction. Attacks made by people who oppose girls education in Afghanistan lead to closure of schools across the country.

Only 50 per cent of eligible children are enrolled in schools while approximately 3 million children, especially children in remote, mountainous and insecure areas remain out of school. - UNICEF

There are approximately three times more boys attending school than girls.

Cultural setbacks also play a part in not many girls going to school. In society, girls are often hidden and isolated, kept behind doors. Also, due to insufficient female teachers, parents feel uncomfortable in sending their daughter to a male teacher. Teachers educating girls are known to be threaten or even killed. Quite often, many girls are forced into early marriage, so parents tend to not even bother with attempting to send their daughter to school because they feel it's not worth it.

Only 40% of Afghan girls attend elementary school, and only one in 20 girls attend school beyond the sixth grade.

The Afghan government is recognizing the struggles that girls have to face in order to be able to receive an education and are trying to do whatever they can. After implementing CEDAW (Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women), some progress has been made. There has been an increase in the number of women in universities and a tremendous increase overall in the number of educational institutions. However, not all the problems have been solved. There is still a lack of security, with one of the top priorities being to get schools updated with proper buildings for the girls since boys and girls must be separated. Pleas to the government have been made to send out public awareness that say women can be breadwinners and not just mothers, conflicting with the traditional beliefs set in place.

If you want to help at home, much can be done. Donating will help provide school books, supplies, and help give girls the leadership programs they need to be successful. Educate Girls Globally is an organization dedicated to promoting girls education not only in Afghanistan, but around the world. Just one donation can make a difference and just one donation can help a girl get the education she rightfully deserves.

donate now at educategirls.org

ONE CHILD, ONE TEACHER, ONE BOOK, AND ONE PEN CAN CHANGE THE WORLD. EDUCATION IS THE ONLY SOLUTION. EDUCATION FIRST. - MALALA YOUSAFZAI

bibliography

PHOTO ONE

PHOTO TWO

PHOTO THREE

PHOTO FOUR

“Basic Education and Gender Equality.” Unicef, www.unicef.org/afghanistan/education.html. Accessed 20 Jan. 2017.

Educate Girls Globally. www.educategirls.org/. Accessed 2 Feb. 2017.

“In Afghanistan, Women and Girls Strive to Get an Education.” UN Women, 9 July 2013, www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2013/7/afghani-women-strive-to-get-an-education. Accessed 18 Jan. 2017.

“Life as an Afghan Woman.” Trust in Education, www.trustineducation.org/resources/life-as-an-afghan-woman/. Accessed 13 Feb. 2017.

Strand, Arne. “Expanding and Improving the Quality of Girls’ Education in Afghanistan.” Brookings, 19 Aug. 2015, www.brookings.edu/blog/education-plus-development/2015/08/19/expanding-and-improving-the-quality-of-girls-education-in-afghanistan/. Accessed 18 Jan. 2017.