Education is often considered the key to development in areas in need of post-conflict reconstruction. Although education has the potential to build a generation of successful intellectuals, it can be used as a tool to manipulate and spread propaganda. The ‘two faces of education’[1]explores the destructive influence of education and the productive possibilities of education for social solidarity.
Unfortunately for Afghanistan, education has fueled and mobilized the violence rather than thwarting conflict. The role of education in Afghanistan must change course to “foster reintegration and peace building… [instead of] the largely negative role that education has played historically in contributing to conflict in Afghanistan.”[2] The United Nations has previously attempted to incorporated education in the approach to of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) of former combatants in Afghanistan. In order for education to have a positive impact on Afghanistan, curriculums and approaches must harmonize with the cultural standards and religious beliefs. Therefore, education systems must be created addressing female and male education problems separately. Education for girls must focus on promoting safety from the Taliban whereas education for boys must focus prevention of joining armed militias and reintegrating ex-combatants. Overall, the Afghanistan Teacher Incentive Program and education infrastructure development will address long-term needs for providing more educational institutions and teachers.
Education for Girls
This can range from elementary and middle school education to technical training programs. Such programs could be organized and ran by RAWA, which has operated home-based schools since the reign of the Taliban in all twelve provinces of Afghanistan.[3] By providing greater donor funds to them the program could extend too many other communities in Afghanistan. An advantage of home-based schooling of girls is that home teachers relate well to the communities they serve because they share similar backgrounds to pupils and parents. For many girls it is very important to be taught either by a female teacher or a local male teacher, who is known and trusted by their parents. The aim should be to gradually integrate females into to the formal education system as security improves. Education for Boys
The key to reintegrating ex-combatants into society and prevention of joining illegal militias is through education. Young men that witness and participate in violent acts during war proved to be resilient through enrolling in a dialectic educational design. A dialectic educational approach engages with and offers alternatives to education’s previously negative manifestations. [4] This dialectic educational approach will come to fruition through the teaching of trusted community leader and teachers trained through the Teacher Incentive Programs.Teacher Incentive Program (TIP)
To increase the availability of teachers in Afghanistan, we will develop a Teacher Incentive Program (TIP) that will work through Teach for All in partnership with United Nations. Teach for All seeks to address educational need in countries to expand educational opportunity internationally. Program participants in TIP will attend teacher training colleges developed by UNICEF where potential teachers will be taught through gender-sensitive curriculum and textbooks.[5] After intensive six month paid training, TIP members will be placed in their home communities to teach in primary or secondary schools. Teacher salaries will be increased through the TIP program funding to make teacher positions more desirable.
Building Schools
A lack of schools and limited space in existing institutions contribute to the challenges of the education in Afghanistan. There is a critical need of building schools and community centers focusing on education. We will work with the Central Asia Institute (CAI) that supports community based education programs in Afghanistan. CAI has supported the construction of 145 schools [6]As security improves, the increase of educational buildings will allow for girls in home-schooling programs to gradually attend public schools with female teachers trained by the TIP program.
[2] Matsumoto, Yukitoshi. (2008) Education for Demilitarizing Youth in Post-conflict Afghanistan, Research in Comparative and International Education, vol 3, #1.
[3] (Alvi-Aziz 6).
[4] Matsumoto, Yukitoshi. (2008) Education for Demilitarizing Youth in Post-conflict Afghanistan, Research in Comparative and International Education, vol 3, #1.
