KABUL, AFGHANISTAN- The U.S. Government will contribute $22 million, over five years, to support the Education Ministry’s vision of a literate Afghanistan.

 

During his recent visit to the United States, Minister of Education, H.E. Hanif Atmar, met with Acting Deputy Administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) James Kunder. In the meeting, Mr. Kunder announced support to the National Literacy Program in Afghanistan by the U.S. Government with a contribution of $22 million, over five years, to support the Ministry’s vision of a literate Afghanistan. This initiative will be a partnership between the Ministry of Education, public and private organizations and USAID.

 

Since becoming Education Minister in May 2006, Minister Atmar has led strategic improvements of his Ministry in line with Afghanistan’s National Development Strategy. At a National Literacy Day ceremony in Kabul September 14, Minister Atmar joined officials from the Ministry’s Literacy Department in recognizing outstanding literacy instructors from each of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces.

 

“The challenges that lie ahead of our nation to provide education for all are immense,” Minister Atmar commented recently, referring to his Ministry’s Five Year Education Strategy, of which the National Literacy Program is a part.  “We are sure that our goals will be achieved in the implementation of our Government’s vision of investing in education.”

 

The National Literacy Program aims to bring the ability to read and write into every household in the country through support across many government ministries in Afghanistan, as well as through the participation of NGOs, public and private organizations.  In addition, there will be new policies, standards of teacher certification and student assessment and a teacher support system at the national, provincial and district levels. 

 

This program is in addition to the $241 million provided for education initiatives in Afghanistan since 2004.  These efforts are aimed at reaching a goal to provide literacy to 10 million people in Afghanistan by 2010.