KABUL - The importance of funding in Education is paramount to the attainment of the EFA goals in Afghanistan. This genuine need was echoed in today’s ceremony which focused on celebrating the Education for All, Global Action Week in Afghanistan.

The education stakeholders in the country expressed their appreciation to the progress made thus far in quality and access to education in Afghanistan, but also highlighted the daunting challenges facing Afghanistan’s Education sector.

In his speech, Mr. Seddiq Patman Deputy Minister of Education asked for more resources to be allocated
for education sector in the country, “We need the budget to construct schools for Afghan children - without the proper infrastructure and equipment, it will be difficult for our children to pursue their studies” said Mr. Patman.

To commemorate the Global Action Week, a wide array of participants gathered today in Kabul, including Government officials, Representatives from the UN Agencies, international partners, and civil society members to show their solidarity to supporting the education sector in Afghanistan.

Representing the UN and UNESCO, Mr. Aoyagi, Director UNESCO Kabul Office emphasized the importance of coordination for achieving set goals in education: “It is important for all of us gathered here today, to work together through broad-based partnerships, coordination, and cooperation to provide sustainable and predictable aid to support continued progress in education in Afghanistan”.

Only 26 percent of the Afghan adult population are able to read and write, which makes Afghanistan one of
the least literate countries in the world. Taking this in to account, the International Community along with
the Afghan Government are taking the necessary steps to improve the situation, highlighted by today’s
conference.

UNESCO’s “Enhancement of Literacy in Afghanistan” ELA Programme with financial support from Japan, is
one of the largest initiatives to meet the dire illiteracy challenges especially in the rural areas. The
programme which has started in late 2008, aims to provide literacy skills to 600,000 illiterates, out of which
60 percent are women.

For further information please contact:
Mohammad Amin Sadiqi, Public Information Officer, Kabul
a.sadiqi@unesco.org
Tel: +93 (0) 799 125292
www.unesco.org/kabul