Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Thursday, March 28th, 2024

US Promoting Literacy in Afghanistan: Crocker

US Promoting Literacy in Afghanistan: Crocker

KABUL - The United States reiterated on Thursday its commitment to helping Afghans build a better future for themselves through access to education.
Ambassador Ryan Crocker, addressing a function marking International Literacy Day at the US embassy in Kabul, said: "Literacy is more than a development goal; it transforms individuals and the society they live in.

"By learning to read, think critically, and better communicate in their own languages, Afghan children and their families gain skills for improving their lives," the diplomat said.

The US embassy said it had partnered with Afghan civil society in a project that provides basic literacy classes to more than 7,000 adults, over half of them women, in all 34 of the country's provinces.

Working with several NGOs to provide books to schools, orphanages and community libraries, the embassy continues to fund teacher training sessions to help Afghanistan's teachers use these products in classrooms.

In partnership with the Ministry of Education, USAID has launched a five-year project, the Learning for Community Empowerment Program, designed to provide literacy and productive skills education to 250,000 illiterate youth and adults in 20 provinces of Afghanistan.

Additionally, USAID has reached 223,000 adults and youth, 60 percent of them female, with literacy program and self-help groups. The agency aims to build the capacity of the Ministry of Education's National Literacy Department.