Press
Release No.2002-70
NEW TEXT BOOKS AND CURRICULUM
FOR AFGHAN CHILDREN
Paris, October 2 - An agreement
establishing a funds-in-trust to finance the upgrading of textbooks
and renewal of the education curriculum for some three million
school children in Afghanistan was signed today by UNESCO and
the Government of Germany.
More than two decades of conflict
have left the education sector in Afghanistan in a state of collapse.
Although demand is rapidly expanding, access to education remains
poor and resources are very limited. Learning and teaching are
largely based on outdated pedagogical methods and materials. Rebuilding
a modern curriculum and producing textbooks will take several
years. This new project is aimed at jump-starting the process.
Germany has contributed US$450,000
to the project, which is part of a long term programme undertaken
with the government of Afghanistan to renew the entire education
curriculum and reinforce the capacities of the Afghan Ministry
of Education. Training ministry staff in curriculum development,
textbook design and the preparation of teachers' guides and materials
is considered a top education priority by the Afghan authorities.
In the initial phase, efforts will
be concentrated on building a core group of subject specialists
who can modify existing textbooks, by removing harmful messages
and including positive models of gender sensitivity, peace and
tolerance, as well as health messages, landmine awareness and
environmental conservation. These specialists will also begin
the consultations to develop the framework for the new curriculum.
Under the second phase, a review
will be made of existing materials and methodologies for education
for peace, human rights and citizenship, including those developed
by Afghans and internationally. The aim is to bring together practitioners
from the Ministry, universities and NGOs to develop a resource
bank in both Dari and Pushtu languages for use in schools and
non-formal education. These materials will be tested in selected
schools and a plan of action prepared for teacher training.
Finally, training will be undertaken
to develop the capacity of the Ministry of Education to design
and produce printed materials, installing a medium capacity printing
unit and training the technical and production staff for printing
and publication of Ministry documents.
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Contact
Sue Williams
Bureau of Public Information, Editorial Section
Tel: (+33) (0) 1 45 68 17 06; Email: s.williams@unesco.org
