Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Ministry of Education

1. Islamic Republic of AfghanistanMinistry of Education Planning Capacity as a Precondition for Peace Building Challenges and Solutions from the Perspective of Afghanistan’s Ministry of Education Abdul Wassay Arian General Director Planning and Evaluation 14 March 2011

2. Overview of Presentation Background on Education In Afghanistan Current Situation Education Gains: Peace building and more Capacity Building: Challenges and Solutions Sustaining Education Gains

3. Where we were in 2001 • Less than a million boys were enrolled in 3,400 schools, taught by 20 thousand teachers. Girls were abandoned. • Most schools without adequate building and facilities. • Multiple outdated curriculums • Only 1,500 male students were attending semi- functional TVET schools • 22 thousand adults were enrolled in 2,000 literacy classes. • Weak administration system and no forecast for funding and development of education

4. Where we are now Access to Education Student enrollment has increased eight fold (38% female) Over 12,500 general and Islamic schools operational in all parts of the country Around 180,000 teachers (30% female) deployed to schools Over 6,000 schools constructed 550,000 adults learn literacy and life skills in over 22,000 courses 29,000 youth being trained in 62 technical and vocational education schools and institutes

5. Where we are now Education System Development and Governance Policy Reform: Education law Public Administrative Reform and Restructuring, New Pay & Grade system Afghanistan Financial Management Information System Institutionalized strategic and operational planning Endorsement of Afghanistan Education Interim Plan in 2011 (EFA-FTI) Education Management Information System, monitoring education indicators

6. Where We Are Now Quality of Education New curriculum for general and Islamic education Teacher education colleges and programmes colleges increased from 4 (2001) to 42 (2011) new teacher training support centers established in 79 districts short term teacher training for 100,000+ teachers 32,000+ students are enrolled for 2-year diploma course

7. Other Education Gains Promotion of human rights and democracy Peace building Poverty reduction State-building Nation-building Building the foundation for sustainable socio-economic development

8. Challenges to capacity building Starting from a very low base Steady and high increase in students enrolment in schools Low investment in higher education Difficulty to attract and retain qualified staff within public sector – competing private sector and international organizations Short-term ah hoc training programs curriculum, teacher education, policy, planning and management – require long-term investment Lack of medium- and long-term funding Insecurity in some parts of the country OECD, FTI: flexibility and responsiveness

9. Innovative solutions for capacity development Strategic sector-wide approach to capacity development System building strategy HR development strategy Effective service delivery strategy Expansion of capacity development activities to provincial, district and school levels Learning by doing approach to capacity development Alignment of all capacity development programmes with MoE priorities Long-term and sustainable capacity development partnerships with national and international partners Community involvement and enhancement of private sector role in development of education

10. Sustaining Education Gains Enhance overall understanding of education sector Strengthen policy and system development Continue and improve ongoing technical support programs National technical assistants Scale up CD at sub-national level Institutionalize capacity development Alignment and harmonization of donors/partners support to MoE plans: “on budget” and “on plan” financial and technical assistance Financing education: 3.25 billion US$ (1.42 billion development budget and 1.83 billion operating budget over the next 3 years) Use monitoring as way to ensure effective service delivery Lobbying and advocacy for education (increase reporting on education gains and good practices) Continue support to security / enabling environment for education

11. Thank you