Education
In Afghanistan, 7.8 million children are out of school, with only half of primary-age children enrolled and 20% attending secondary school. Afghanistan remains the only country in the world where girls are banned from secondary and higher education, with at least 1.4 million girls deliberately denied schools since 2021 and nearly 2.5 million girls are now out of school, these restrictions threaten their wellbeing, increases risks of early marriage, and undermines the country’s long term social and economic stability.
Early childhood education remains critically low (1%), and 75–95% of children with disabilities are excluded. Poverty, hunger, and limited demand for education mean many children are unable to attend school. Since late 2023, over 285,000 school-age children have returned from Pakistan, adding to the challenges faced by returned and displaced families.
Our response
Save the Children envisions a world where every child has the right to survival, learning, protection, development, and participation. Our goal is to enhance access to and retention in quality education at all levels, including early childhood development and formal and non-formal education systems that are inclusive, safe, and resilient to climate change.
Quality education also means that all children, regardless of their abilities or vulnerabilities, can learn and participate equally and safely. Additionally, Save the Children incorporates climate change, child protection, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), and Cash Voucher Assistance (CVA) to provide holistic services.
Group of ECCD children benefiting from the stationery package and uniform provided to them by Sponsorship program. Atabek Khadim
Key areas of the education response
Early Childhood Education and Development (ECCD): Focuses on children aged 4–6 through nurturing, play-based learning that strengthens early literacy, numeracy and socio-emotional skills, using the Ready to Learn Common Approach. Community-based engagement supports parents to contribute to early learning at home.
Community-Based Schools (CBS): focus on school-aged children in grades 1–6, following the formal education system and an approved national curriculum. Unlike Community-Based Education (CBE), the CBS model provides a structured learning environment similar to public schools and has the capacity to enrol new school-aged children each year.
School Improvement Plans (SIPs): Supports SIPs by improving school infrastructure and WASH facilities to create safer, more accessible and inclusive learning environments, including upgrades to classrooms, playgrounds, libraries, and water and sanitation services.
Teacher Development: Strengthens teacher capacity through training and professional development in inclusive, learner-centred and transformative teaching approaches, supported by Teacher Learning Circles (TLCs) for peer learning and knowledge sharing.
Teaching and Learning Materials and Hygiene Kits: Provides teaching kits, learning materials and hygiene kits to reduce barriers to learning, address gender-specific needs, and promote equitable and safe learning environments.
Integration of MHPSS and Child Protection: Integrates social-emotional learning, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), We thrive, Psychological First Aid (PFA) and HEART (Healing Education through Art) to promote well-being and peer support for children and educators.