The EU’s contribution will enable UNICEF to improve the quality of existing school infrastructure in up to 385 primary public schools by for example restoring classrooms, provide gender sensitive sanitation facilities and boundary walls. The project will furthermore support in-service training for teachers to improve the quality of teaching, particularly in early grades.

“The classroom should feel like a second home for children. When classrooms are child-friendly and safe, children are motivated to learn, and their attendance, performance and completion rates go up”

said Raffaella Iodice, the EU Chargée d’Affaires a.i. to Afghanistan.

This two-year project will build on UNICEF’s ongoing support for children’s education in Afghanistan’s public schools and community-based education centres.

“We are proud to partner with the EU to keep thousands of children in school. Continued investment in the public school system is critical to support girls and boys who are still able to  attend school. Education remains a beacon of hope for a better future for girls and boys in Afghanistan”

said Fran Equiza, UNICEF Representative to Afghanistan.

The EU is a solid supporter of UNICEF’s work to improve the wellbeing of the children of Afghanistan through investments in education, health, nutrition and child protection interventions.

Background

About half of children in Afghanistan are not in school and for those in school the quality of learning is among the lowest in the world. According to the 2022 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, only 13.6 per cent of children in Grades 2 and 3 have acquired basic reading skills and mere 18 per cent have basic numeracy skills.

Continued investment into the education system of a young generation of Afghans, including the restoration of classrooms and provision of a safe learning environment, are crucial to ensure quality education for all.