Spotlight Afghanistan UN helps close education gender gap.

The Government of Afghanistan and UNESCO on 28 January 2003 launched a major project to boost reading and writing throughout the country, which has one of the world's lowest literacy rates. UNESCO estimates that only 51.9 per cent of Afghan men (15 years and older) and 21.9 per cent of women can read and write. The Literacy and Non-formal Education Development in Afghanistan (LAND AFGHAN) project aims to close the education gap by building a nationwide network of literacy teachers trained in modern non-formal education methods.

While rebuilding the country's education system and getting all Afghan children back in school is a priority, UNESCO said the adult population, responsible for the immediate reconstruction after more than two decades of war, also needed to upgrade skills and knowledge. Few qualified workers are left in Afghanistan.

During the second phase of the project, community learning centres will be set up in Kabul and throughout Afghanistan to provide access to these literacy programmes for as many people as possible, with an emphasis on reaching out to Afghan women and girls. Under Thliban rule, women were not allowed to work and girls were forbidden from attending school.

On 6 February, UNICEF started a renewed drive for girls' education in Afghanistan as part of its Back-to-School campaign. Six weeks before the children return to the classroom for the start of their second full year of learning, the Ministry of Education is taking delivery of new school materials supplied by UNICEF, with a special focus on increasing the enrolment of girls at the primary level. The agency is working with the Ministry to ensure school supplies are available this year for a total of 4.5 million girls and boys.