Community-based Literacy and Complementary Learning Possibilities
The literacy rate of Afghanistan in 2022 was 37.3% (22.6% for women and 52.1% for men). In the past decade, UNESCO has provided over 1 million learners with Basic General Literacy and Skills-based Literacy.
“Since the beginning of 2023, UNESCO’s Youth and Adult Literacy and Basic Education (YALBE) program through national Implementing Partners (IPs) is providing Basic General Literacy (BGL) equivalent to grades 1-3 of general education and pre-vocational skills for over 25000 illiterate and semi-literate youth and adults (over 60% women and adolescent girls) in 20 provinces of Afghanistan. This program uses UNESCO-developed teaching and learning materials, which have been developed based on adult learning principles and methodologies. UNESCO’s field monitoring reports demonstrate that the provision of basic literacy and numeracy have had significant impacts on the learners’ daily lives, particularly illiterate females.”
In the programme, UNESCO is developing teaching and learning materials for Youth and Adult Literacy and Basic Education Level 2, equivalent to Grades 4 to 6 of general education, and for Family and Intergenerational Literacy and Learning. A series of capacity strengthening and training of master trainers, literacy facilitators, and community mobilizers continues.
UNESCO is also leading the Platform for Youth and Adult Education, including national and international NGOs, UN agencies, and institutions to share information and to coordinate support for improving the quality and provision of Youth and Adult Literacy and Basic Education in the country.
UNESCO continues to advocate for the right to education, through a variety of education platforms and public awareness interventions.
UNESCO successfully implemented the “Literacy for a Brighter Future” campaign, broadcasted through TV, radio, social media, and billboards to further increase public awareness of the right to education and the importance of literacy for youth and adults, especially women and adolescent girls.
UNESCO’s community-based literacy classes are complemented by other learning solutions, including but not limited to, the development and broadcasting of radio educational programmes to provide learning opportunities and raise public awareness of the importance of education.
UNESCO is mobilizing education technology stakeholders to explore innovative educational practices. In addition, the expertise and support can be drawn from the members of the Global Education Coalition, comprising international and regional organizations, UN agencies, the private sector, civil society organizations, non-profit organizations, media organizations and academia, to explore how education technology can be promoted and strengthened to improve access to quality education in Afghanistan.