UNESCO to provide basic learning opportunity for 25,000 Afghans

KABUL (Pajhwok): The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will provide basic learning opportunity for 25,000 people in 20 provinces of Afghanistan, an official said on Tuesday.

Addressing a press conference here, UNESCO Afghanistan Representative Patricia McPillips said: “Every individual can learn to become an educated person irrespective of the age and time.”

On the occasion of World Literacy Day, Patricia said UNESCO would implement a basic and general learning program in Afghanistan’s 20 provinces to strengthen public awareness.

As many as 25,000 children, youth and elders would benefit from the scheme, she said.

She said: “There is need to fully participate in the social-economic development of the country by cooperating with each other and to fight illiteracy.”

UNESCO General Director’s message was read out in the press conference, in which it was said that besides development in the area of illiteracy worldwide, still 771 million people — 60 percent girls, women — were learning initial skills of literacy.

Audrey said: “Covid-19 further complicated the situation that created other barriers to keep students away from schools but UNESCO and its partners doubled their efforts in emergency situation to bring about improvement.”

She said on the occasion of World Literacy Day, “UNESCO calls on education activists and institutions to play their role in promoting literacy”.

Senior Education Ministry official MawlaviSadruddinSaad said the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) was committed to promoting education and asked the world to provide support to Afghanistan’s education sector.

He said Afghan children studied under the open skies without building and the world should focus on this point.

He urged proper inspection and monitoring of literacy classes nation-wide, saying that a small number of students attended the classes.

nh/ma

Views: 124