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Shakeeba’s Struggle to Attend School, Afghanistan

Eight-year old Shakeeba lives in Shina Masjeed village of Dahana-i-Ghori District in Baghlan, Afghanistan and is in 2nd grade. Until community-based education classes started in 2007, there were no other schools in her village. The government school was four hours away from their village. The boys went to the village mosque to study religious subjects.

Starting in 1st grade when the classes began last year, Shakeeba was thrilled to have the opportunity to attend school.  She received a school bag, textbooks and stationery. Her teacher displayed great kindness by always helping them with their studies and not beating the students.

After finishing first grade, she could not continue to go to school. Shakeeba’s father was in Pakistan for work and her grandfather looked after their family. Her mother became ill and her grandfather wanted her to stay at home and help out the family. Though her mother recovered after some time, Shakeeba’s grandfather still would not allow for her to attend school.  He told her that education is not important for girls. It was very upsetting for Shakeeba to see her girlfriends continuing their education while she was forced to stay at home doing chores.

Aga Khan Foundation is working in Afghanistan with CARE, Catholic Relief Services and the International Rescue Committee to expand access to quality education especially for girls. Since its start in April 2006, the “Partnership for Advancing Community Education in Afghanistan” has set up 2,076 classes in 870 communities in 17 Afghan provinces, reaching nearly 60,000 students (69% girls). The program is reaching villages where schools do not exist.

One day her teacher and one of the girls from her neighborhood came to Shakeeba’s house to ask her grandfather why he would not allow Shakeeba to attend school. The grandfather told the teacher that school was not a place for girls.  Instead, girls should stay at home and help their mothers with the house work. The grandfather was set in his ways and could not be persuaded. The teacher left disappointed that Shakeeba would miss the chance to learn to read and write at an early age.

The next day the teacher came with a representative from the Aga Khan Foundation. They sat with the grandfather for a long time and explained to him the importance of education. The grandfather agreed finally and allowed Shakeeba to return to school. Shakeeba is now pleased to be back in school and extremely happy that she can study together with her classmates. She promised her grandfather that she will still contribute to the family chores when she returns home after school.

Aga Khan Foundation is working in Afghanistan with CARE, Catholic Relief Services and the International Rescue Committee to expand access to quality education especially for girls. Since its start in April 2006, the “Partnership for Advancing Community Education in Afghanistan” has set up 2,076 classes in 870 communities in 17 Afghan provinces, reaching nearly 60,000 students (69% girls). The program is reaching villages where schools do not exist.  2,173 teachers (27% female) have been trained in early childhood education, subject upgrading, supplementary materials, adult literacy, gender and conflict resolution.  850 school management committees were trained to monitor and manage community-based classes. School management committees, made up of parents and community members, ensure that the classes continue functioning for the long run.  When the program – funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development – ends in 2011, it aims to enroll 90,000 students, half of them girls.

Peace Day was celebrated at schools in September 2007. Students and teachers spent half a day focused on peace day activities. Teachers and teacher trainers led discussions, story-telling and a celebration that included children creating collaborative posters outlining their hands and writing messages of peace. The posters were displayed prominently in the villages.