People are our greatest resource.  We cannot achieve the vision set out in the constitution or national development strategy without investing in our citizens.  The legacy of conflict, combined with gender discrimination and under-investment in social development, has led to the depletion of Afghanistan’s human capital.  Since 2002/03, the Government has made considerable progress expanding access to education, yet far more remains to be done.  Lack of equitable access to and the poor quality of education opportunities are severely limiting people’s ability to participate productively in the economy.  The shortage of both qualified and experienced professionals is a significant constraint to the development of an effective, modern, and responsive civil service, as well as a vibrant private sector.  Due to a complete absence of vocational training capacities and opportunities, skilled and semi-skilled labor must be imported from within and outside the region at a high cost.  Afghanistan’s cultural heritage risks further destruction, a huge potential loss to the people and an obstacle to developing the tourism industry.  Lack of access to and full freedom of the press limits the ability of people to participate in society.  Increasing the productivity of human capital requires both short-term investments in training and skills development and long-term investments in education and culture.

In 2005, the Government committed to a set of MDGs that focus on overcoming poverty through relieving constraints to human development.  The MDGs guide the strategy for this sector.

Our goal is to significantly improve the quality of, and promote equitable access to, education, skills development, and other social services in order to re-invigorate Afghanistan’s human capital, reduce poverty, and facilitate economic growth.

Five-Year Strategic Benchmarks

The stated goal for the Education Sector will be realized through four inter-related and mutually supporting programs:

Program 1: Primary and Secondary Education

By 2010: in line with Afghanistan’s MDGs, net enrollment in primary school for girls and boys will be at least 60% and 75% respectively; a new curriculum will be operational in all secondary schools; female teachers will be increased by 50%; 70% of Afghanistan’s teachers will have passed a competency test; and a system for assessing learning achievement, such as a national testing system for students, will be in place.

Universal access to primary and secondary education is the foundation for literacy, skills development, and the establishment of a productive work force, essential elements of human capital.  The goal is to expand access to primary and secondary education, increase enrollment and retention rates, and strengthen the curriculum and quality of teachers.  Government will support teacher training by adding distance learning and will develop modern curricula and quality monitoring mechanisms.  Infrastructure and supply programs will be expedited to ensure coordinated and timely efforts and universal coverage.  Government will rationalize the network of schools and review the service conditions and pay of education personnel.  Community participation in school management will be encouraged.  Success cannot be measured only be sending children to school, but by equipping them with the necessary literacy, numeracy, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills needed to face the challenges and requirements of an expanding peacetime economy.

Program 2: Higher Education

By 2010: enrollment of students in universities will be 100,000, with at least 35% female students; and the curriculum in Afghanistan’s public universities will be revised to meet the development needs of the country and private sector growth.

Provision of higher education extends and professionalizes the opportunities offered by the Primary and Secondary Education program, supplying the public and private sectors with leaders.  The goal is to build a well-managed and internationally recognized system of higher education that responds to Afghanistan’s growth and development needs.  The tertiary education sector, regulated by the Ministry of Higher Education, will include universities (public and private), colleges, and training institutes.  Government will limit the number of publicly funded higher education institutions to ensure quality and focus on graduating the next generation of public and private sector leaders.  Public universities will have increased institutional autonomy, but will adhere to regulations set by the Ministry.  Government will pursue partnerships with the private sector and education foundations for resource mobilization and diversification of higher education opportunities.

Program 3: Skills Development

A human resource study will be completed by end-2006, and 150,000 men and women will be trained in marketable skills through public and private means by end-2010.

Non-formal education, apprenticeship programs, and Vocational Education and Training (VET) will provide unemployed older youths and adult workers with skills relevant to the evolving needs of employers and the economy.  The goal is to develop an effective skills development system that is responsive to labor market needs.  Government will conduct a national skills assessment survey, establish advisory committees to oversee the development of the VET program, and accelerate the National Skills Development Program.  The roles of the various interested ministries in Government, the private sector, and NGOs will be clarified, with Government in the managerial role and the private sector and NGOs implementing programs, as per the national strategy more broadly.  Linkages to countries and institutions beyond Afghanistan will strengthen national capacity.

Program 4: Culture, Media, and Sport

1. A comprehensive inventory of Afghan cultural treasures will be compiled by end-2007.  By end-2010, measures will be taken to revive Afghan cultural heritage, to stop the illegal removal of cultural material, and to restore damaged monuments and artifacts.

2. By end-2010, the media will be protected as independent, pluralistic, and accessible to Afghan women and men throughout the country, thereby promoting an open and democratic society.

3. By end-2010, sports will be promoted, with special emphasis on creating access for children, women, and the disabled.

Culture, media, and sport round out the sector strategy by developing the full citizen.  The goal is to expand coverage and freedom of the press, safeguard and rebuild Afghanistan’s cultural heritage, and improve access to sports.  Preserving and enhancing Afghanistan’s culture is vital to the cohesion of society, for social and economic recovery, and for creating strong community-based institutions that allow communities to work together.  Access to a free media plays a key role in keeping Government in check, highlighting corruption, and allowing greater freedom of expression and social equality to take root.  Sport contributes to the health of an active society, promoting youth culture, enhanced social cohesion, and cooperation across emerging community networks.  The Government will therefore support the rapid expansion of socio-cultural opportunities throughout the country, and expanded access to print, radio, and televised media to promote democracy, accountability, and personal development.

Fundamental to the programmatic interventions listed above will be a focus on the following initiatives.  Government aims to:

Continue institutional reform and capacity building: Government will focus upon fiscally sustainable reform and strengthening of public institutions responsible for social services, while clearly defining mandates for service delivery.  While implementation strategies may differ by program, renewed efforts to support ministries’ capabilities as enablers, regulators, and monitors will be a priority.  Government will accelerate investments to strengthen provincial and district administrations, with a view to reducing geographical disparities.

Improve sector-wide approaches and coordination mechanisms:  As Afghanistan has moved from an emergency to a development phase, patchwork solutions cannot be maintained; Government will therefore seek consolidated financing for key sector programs, adopting sector wide approaches for education in particular.  The Ministry of Education will work closely with the Ministry for Hajj and Religious Affairs to ensure that our religious and general education policies are mutually reinforcing.

Gender equity and environmental sustainability:  Government will work towards gender equality in access to education and sport, particularly those captured by our MDG commitments.  Environmental sustainability will also be a focus, particularly with regard to access to potable water and effective sanitation.