Despite a significant investment of approximately $1.3 billion by USAID in educational projects from 2002 to 2021, and a seven-fold increase in the number of teachers in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2019, the state of education remains a contentious issue. Sarahat, a high school principal in Kabul, voices a starkly different perspective. \"Although the U.S. claimed that they would rehabilitate education in Afghanistan,\" Sarahat explains, \"they actually destroyed it.\"
Contrary to the apparent growth in educational infrastructure, World Bank data reveals a troubling decline in literacy rates. The adult literacy rate in Afghanistan dropped from 43 percent in 2018 to 37 percent in 2021. Similarly, literacy among individuals aged 15 to 24 fell from 65 percent to 56 percent during the same period. These statistics suggest that despite increased funding and resources, the educational outcomes have not aligned with the initial promises.
The disconnect between the reported investments and the on-the-ground realities highlights the complexities of implementing educational reforms in conflict-affected regions. Sarahat's observations raise critical questions about the effectiveness of foreign aid in fostering sustainable educational development in Afghanistan.
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Afghan high school principal: U.S. destroyed Afghan education
cgtn.com
