Literacy course in Afghanistan improves women's position

An increasing number of Afghan women learn to read, write and calculate thanks to Finland's support. Mastering these skills has a big influence on women's lives. Less than a fifth of adult women can read.

Finland has supported UNESCO's Enhancement of Literacy Afghanistan (ELA) project together with Sweden and Japan since 2014. The programme covers nearly the whole country. Finland's contribution of EUR two million is used to organise literacy courses in three provinces, Kabul, Sar-e Pol and Takhar.

The programme aims to provide literacy to about 630,000 adults in 2014–2016, of whom at least two thirds will be women.

In November 2015, slightly over 200,000 people attended the literacy courses and about 133,000 of them were women. In addition to the literacy courses, the programme aims to strengthen the capacity of Afghan education authorities in managing and administering literacy programmes.

The security situation influences the rate of participation

Illiteracy is a big problem in Afghanistan. According to the most recent Afghanistan Living Conditions Survey (2013–14), 49 per cent of adult, over 15 years old men are literate. On the other hand, only 19 per cent of women are literate.

The disparities between urban and rural areas and different provinces are great. The hurdles in the acquisition of literacy skills include, for example, lack of education and poor security situation, which prevents travelling to school.

Another challenge that needs to be overcome is negative attitudes against women's education that are common in places.

The nine-month literacy classes provide the participants basic reading, writing and calculation skills. Learning these skills will have a big influence on the lives of those who pass the course.

Literate people can exercise influence

Women who have acquired literacy can also help their children in homework. Literacy gives women self-confidence and they consider that they are more capable of, for example, speaking in public events and expressing their own opinions.

The course has boosted women's assertiveness.

Literacy has also many other positive and long-term effects in the lives of those who have attended the course. By way of example, a woman, who was married to her cousin when she was sixteen, acquired literecy on the course. After that she has taught others attending these courses.

 "I'm happy now. I have children and they all go to school now. I'd like to continue studies in a private school. I'm not only teaching those attending the literacy classes but I've been elected to chair our village women's council, too," she says.

Some of those who have passed the basic literacy course enroll in a continuation course, which strengthens their literacy skills and also offers other skills, such as smallholding and sewing, which help people find employment and earn a living.

Embassy of Finland, Kabul