Government of Japan provides US$24 million for
constructions of education facilities in Kabul city
Source: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF);
Government of Japan
KABUL, 22 Jan, 2009 – Education facilities in Kabul
city will receive a boost with a new US$ 24 million
grant from the Government of Japan. Under a new
agreement signed with UNICEF today, approximately
80,000 students will benefit from the construction of
education facilities of 1,000 classrooms.
The agreement was formally signed by H.E. Mr. Hideo
Sato, Ambassador of Japan and Ms Catherine Mbengue,
UNICEF Representative for Afghanistan in the presence
of Afghanistan's Minister of Education, H.E. Dr.
Farooq Wardak at a special ceremony in the Ministry of
Education today.
The grant will facilitate to achieve the objectives
of 5-year National Education Strategic Plan of the
Ministry of Education to create safe-learning
environment with focus on girls, improve the quality,
and develop a healthy linkage between schools and
communities.
"Parents are demanding education for their children
as seen with over 6 million children who have enrolled
in schools in 2008." said UNICEF Representative for
Afghanistan, Catherine Mbengue. "Government and its
partners including UNICEF are doing their utmost to
respond to this demand so that parents of this country
see their children enrolled and complete their
education cycle. This grant from the government of
Japan is another means to respond to this hope".
The broad objectives of this project are to reduce
gender disparity in basic education and improve the
quality of education for all children of Kabul city by
end of 2010.
Over 12% of Afghanistan's students enrolled in
school are in Kabul city. Currently there are 35
schools without adequate school-building. 25 schools
are operating with four shifts due to shortage of
learning space, giving very little time for actual
teaching and learning in classrooms, resulting in
delivery of poor quality education. The Japanese
contribution will help improve this situation.
"Japan has been setting a high priority on the
Education sector over the past seven years and has
been supporting the efforts of the Afghan government
through UNICEF," said Ambassador Sato. "I would like
to express our deep appreciation for the wonderful
work of UNICEF and the Ministry of Education in our
joint efforts to improve quality of education in this
country."
Three decades of conflict have left Afghanistan
with destroyed infrastructure, fragmented institutions
and a lack of basic health, education and sanitation
facilities in most parts of the country. The
Government of Afghanistan endorsed the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) in May 2004, with country's
MDG target year 2020 which gives it another 13 years
to achieve the MDG benchmark. While a lot of progress
has been made, so far there are still around 40%
school-age children out of schools, of which 65% are
girls.
The future of the country depends on investment in
the education sector. Quality education is a critical
ingredient for poverty alleviation and economic growth
in Afghanistan.
Japan has been a long-term supporter of UNICEF's
work with the Government of Afghanistan, notably in
the areas of education and health. Since 2000, the
Japanese contribution to the government of Afghanistan
through the UNICEF assisted Country Programme has been
about US$ 89 million.
For more information, please contact:
Ministry of Education, Asif Nang; +93 (0) 799 33 79
58
Embassy of Japan in Afghanistan, Mr. Kazuo Tsukada;
+93 799 689 862
UNICEF Kabul, Fawad Sahil fsahil@unicef.org +93 (0)
798 507 114 |
