How large a percentage of Afghan girls and women receive primary education today?
Around 5.4 million children, about half of Afghanistan’s school-age children, are now in school. Thirty-eight percent of these schoolchildren are girls. There is a huge need for facilities in the rural areas. Only 29 percent of our schools have roofs, but the need for qualified teachers is even greater. There was a woman candidate in the presidential race. In what ways are you noticing increased participation by women in Afghan society and how is this participation perceived? Indeed, we had our first woman candidate in the presidential race. She is now our Minister of Women’s Affairs. Every time I visit Afghanistan I witness enormous progress from the previous time, especially in the area of women’s issues. Now women are fully participating in all social, economic and political aspects of life in Afghanistan. They are determined and articulate about what they want. During the Taliban period women were denied all basic rights, but now the men understand the importance of equal rights fo
