Afghanistan: UNICEF's education programme for 2003

UNICEF's education programme for 2003
UNICEF has been entrusted by the Government of Afghanistan, the Ministry of Education and UNAMA to play a major role in the reconstruction of the national education system.

In 2003, UNICEF will focus specific attention on the issue of quality and gender-balance in education; supporting the Ministry of Education in its goal to increase girls' enrolment, a national reform of the primary level curriculum, reform of the system of teacher preparation and continuing education opportunities, strengthening capacity improved educational planning and policy development, supply and distribution of essential learning materials, and rehabilitation of schools.

UNICEF will continue to support the lead taken by the Government of Afghanistan, working with institutional partners to achieve a number of measurable targets in 2003, with an overall aim of increasing enrolment of children and preparation of teachers -- particularly amongst girls and women respectively.

UNICEF has selected Afghanistan as one of 25 countries where renewed efforts are to be made in 2003 to increase girls' enrolment, with the aim of achieving significant increases in the number of girls regularly attending school by the year 2005. We have set a target of 500,000 additional girls attending school by March 2004. We will accomplish our goal through a nation-wide strategy, and by focusing on the twelve provinces with the highest overall school-age population and the lowest percentage of girls enrolled in school.

One year on: 2002 in review

N.B. Student and teacher stationery packs consisted of 65 different items supplied in three different types of kit.

Fast facts and actions from 2002

Students

Results received from the nationwide assessment, conducted by the Ministry of Education with support from UNICEF, indicate:

Facts

• Over 3 million children enrolled in some form of education in 2002
  
  
• 30% of pupils enrolled in schools are girls
  
  
• Central Provinces contain over 40% of the total
  
  
• 42% of pupils are enrolled in Grade 1 alone
  
  
• Total enrolment rate is believed to be 60% higher than before March 2002 (girls over 90% higher).

Actions

The Ministry of Education and UNICEF are supporting education for returnees and IDPs coming back to their homes, including public information and advocacy campaigns and providing basic learning materials and tents to areas where returnees are settled.

Schools

Facts

• There are 7,010 schools in Afghanistan, including over 2,700 non-formal establishments (private buildings, mosques, open air).
  
  
• 30% of schools are seriously damaged.
  
  
• A further 30% of school are partially damaged, partly destroyed or incomplete.
  
  
• In 2002, 109 schools were reported to have mines in the grounds or immediate surrounding areas, making access to the school dangerous.
  
  
• Half of schools do not have access to a safe water source.
  
  
• 39% of schools do not have adequate sanitation facilities.

Actions

• UNICEF supported the repair of 146 schools damaged over recent years. To date, 102 schools covering 128,195 students are completed and 44 more covering 33,141 students are nearing completion.
  
  
• Over, 8,500 tents have been provided as temporary classrooms.
  
  
• 1,000 schools have been provided safe water and adequate sanitation facilities.

Teachers

Facts

• There were 77,232 teachers registered in Afghanistan's schools in 2002.
  
  
• 28% of teachers are women.
  
  
• Average teacher-pupil ratio is 1:40, although this can be as high as 1:62 (Kabul).
  
  
• Only 22% of teachers have graduated from teacher training college.
  
  
• Most teachers have Grade 12 level education or less and are teaching with no teacher training.

Actions

• Over 30,000 teachers have received orientation in the use of new teaching material in a programme with the BBC Afghan Service and the Ministry of Education with support from UNICEF.
  
  
• Preparations for a Winter Teacher Training Seminar were completed for over 18,000 teachers from 29 provinces in language arts, modern methods of teaching, and land mine awareness.

Curriculum Materials and School Supplies

Actions

• 1.7 million children and 70,000 teachers were covered in March 2002 distribution of supplies.
  
  
• Further distribution to 1.2 million primary school children, 300,000 secondary school children and 30,000 teachers was completed in September 2002.
  
  
• Preparations for distribution to more than 4.5 million school children and over 70,000 teachers in March 2003 have been made for the past several months. Preparations include procurement of school supplies and rehabilitation of Ministry of Education logistics centre in Kabul, training of new Ministry team, and the design an implementation of a national distribution plan utilizing all transportation means available, from helicopter to donkey caravan to reach the most remote regions.
  
  
• Over 8.2 million textbooks provided by the University of Nebraska Omaha were distributed by the Ministry of Education with support form UNICEF, along with 1.8 million supplementary teaching materials.

Support to the Ministry of Education

Actions

• UNICEF carried out the rehabilitation of the Department of Construction of the Ministry of Education in Kabul.
  
  
• Apart from the main Kabul Ministry of Education Logistics Centre the Ministry of Education, with support from UNICEF, has rehabilitated 300 provincial and district level warehouses to assist in the ongoing distribution of school materials as more children return.
  
  
• The Ministry, with support from UNICEF, has trained approximately 600 local education department officials around the country on procedures, accountability and planning for the distribution of educational supplies to schools. The training has increased accountability and strengthened monitoring skills of local officials to ensure timely deliveries of educational supplies to children, teachers and schools.

Building on progress : UNICEF support to education in 2003

National Academy of Education

• Teachers College, Columbia University, with support from UNICEF, will assist the Ministry of Education in establishing a National Academy of Education. This National Academy will be the center of excellence in education, providing leadership in the reform of curriculum, teacher preparation, policy and planning, and girls education.

Curriculum Materials and School Supplies

• UNICEF with UNESCO-IBE is supporting a comprehensive reform of the curriculum at the primary level. The first textbooks for grades one and four will be introduced by the end of the year.
  
  
• An additional 18 million textbooks will be distributed over March and April.

Teacher Education

• 15 Teacher Training colleges will be rehabilitated. Several will be equipped with IT equipment, stationery, supplies, furniture and dormitories, libraries and science laboratories.
  
  
• The new curriculum for teacher preparation will be based on a student-centered approach to learning and gender balance in pedagogy as well as learning materials.
  
  
• At least 50,000 teachers will be provided with initial in-service training in new teaching methodology, improved classroom management and the new curriculum

School rehabilitation

• In a partnership with the Ministry of Education and the UN Office of Project Services (UNOPS), UNICEF will support the rehabilitation of at least 200 primary schools, with a focus on areas of high return.
  
  
• UNICEF will ensure that every primary school in Afghanistan has a safe water point.
  
  
• Adequate sanitation will be installed in at least 1,500 primary schools across the country.
  
  
• The rehabilitation of the main building of the Ministry is due to start in April 2003.

Girls' education

• UNICEF with MOE aims to increase girls enrollment by 500,000 additional girls by March 2004.
  
  
• The programme will focus on the twelve provinces with the highest overall school-age population and the lowest percentage of girls enrolled in school.
  
  
• Special attention will be given to increasing the number of qualified female teachers in schools, providing support for the expansion of learning spaces through the provision of tents and school rehabilitation and supporting home based schools, incorporating and linking them into the formal education system.

Support to the Ministry of Education

• The Ministry of Education with support from UNICEF is providing each Provincial Education Office with five motorcycles to facilitate their supervision of schools at the district level, communication device to remain in contact with the central Ministry (satellite or mobile phone), computers, and other office equipment to improve efficiency and effectiveness at the Provincial level.
  
  
• The main building of the Ministry will be rehabilitated, including modern communications systems, computers with Internet access, library, curriculum resources, and teacher professional development aids. Construction is due to start in April.
  
  
• The Programme Secretariat with support from UNICEF will continue to provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Education in Budgeting, Policy and Planning, as well as continue to play a coordinating role with donor agencies, NGO's, and other international partners seeking to contribute to the fulfilment of the 1382 (2003) National Education Development Plan.

Budget

UNICEF Afghanistan Information / Communication Section
+93 (0)702 78493
+93 (0)702 74729