The Role of Education in Women Development and Empowerment in Afghanistan

The Role of Education in Women Development and Empowerment in Afghanistan
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Introduction
According to Ahmed-Ghosh (2013), it is nearly three decades; Afghan citizens have been subjected to series of brutal wars of the Soviet occupation war (1979-1989), tribal civil wars (1990-1996), and the Taliban oppressive rule (1996-2001). Before these brutal wars, the country was a relatively liberal nation with a progressive view on women’s rights. Afghan women constituted 50% of government employees, 40% of health practitioners, and 70% of teachers in Kabul. Nevertheless, impacts of such brutal wars negatively affected women’s rights in public life and reduced them to a domestic domain (Poureslami, MacLean, Spiegel, and Yassi, 2013). Since the Taliban regime was overthrown, the country has been under new governance under Western-backed democracy devoted to women’s education and rights. It is known widely that education is a vital tool for women empowerment since it enables them to address their problems, tackle their traditional roles, and transform their lives. Education is a powerful tool to change women’s position in the society. In this paper, the role of education in women development and empowerment in Afghanistan is examined.
Role of education in empowering women
Both current research and modern history research in third world nations such as Afghanistan show that democracy and peace are developed when citizens become educated, increasing the respect for human rights, and promotion of education and equal rights provided to girls and women. Equal education for girls and boys has been known to increase GDP and productivity of a nation. Specifically, education for girls leads to more democracy, income growth, and sustainable families (Brodsky et al. 2011). Education promotes participation of women and girls in the society, helps them to minimize domestic violence, and encourages them to be active citizens and to participate in income generating activities.
In Afghanistan, the empowerment and education of women is important to minimize the influence of extremism and the Taliban. Holland and Yousofi (2014) argue that when Afghan women and girls understand their legal rights, they can vote to influence their own future, speak for themselves, eradicate the influence of extremism, and promote democracy. Investment in girls’ education is vital to address women’s needs including their rights. Girls who get the education are more likely to get jobs, have children, get married, and earn living as adults (Fluri, 2008). A better approach to ensure women’s rights and to empower them is through providing education, which will foster free-thinking, knowledge, and literacy of their rights.
Challenges facing women education and empowerment in Afghanistan
It is evident how education for Afghan women can help to create socio-economic developments in the country. However, there are several issues hindering women empowerment. Poureslami, MacLean, Spiegel, and Yassi (2013) explain that after the Taliban regime was overthrown in 2001, optimism and hope of Afghan women revived with the presence of international forces and international community, and increasing support for women’s participation in cultural, economic and social issues of life. Although impressive efforts have been made in education for women since 2001, today women still encounter many challenges because old problems persist while new challenges emerge. Lack of equal rights of women, lack of job opportunities, and poor quality of education and illiteracy are key challenges affecting Afghan women. Most women have not seen better changes since the fall Taliban regime. Many girls and women are still vulnerable, marginalize, and uneducated. Today, literacy rate for males is 43% compared to 12% for females.
Women have a critical role to play in securing prosperity and peace for Afghanistan. Afghanistan constitution was made in 2004, which guaranteed gender equality, but women have not secured equality. In Afghanistan, the female population is still affected by low literacy rates, cases of domestic violence and discrimination, and limited economic opportunities (Ahmed-Ghosh, 2013). Persistent civil strife in the country stills hinders Afghan women from participating in the political life of Afghanistan. Women have become victims of terrible atrocities.
It is 15 years after the Taliban regime was overthrown, but many Afghan women are still confused. Increasing numbers of women now attend schools and higher educational institutions, and consequently, many know their rights because of the influence of education and the age of the internet. However, they still live in the traditional society where male elders determine their fate. Powell (2014) highlights that many girls go to school, but before reaching 18 years of age, they are taken to forced marriage because their families can no longer support them. Intolerable violence and forced marriages have compelled girls and women to flee their homes, keeping many urban shelters continuously full.
Hoodfar (2007) opines that the Islamic fundamentalism still influences the policies of the government on women’s rights. Although legal advances have been made to prosecute individuals who abuse and discriminate against women, un-Islamic conservative leaders are challenging such measures. While the government has not addressed these issues amicably, many women’s advocacy groups are concerned that gains the country achieved in the past decade are beginning to erode as Taliban insurgents, and conservative leaders reassert themselves (Poureslami, MacLean, Spiegel, and Yassi, 2013). It is unfortunate that extremism and insurgency groups have been targeting courageous individuals who speak on behalf of helpless, vulnerable women. Insurgents have lead attacks on opposing women’s education and consequently have led to the closure of regular girls’ schools.
Mechanism for women empowerment
The Afghan government has strived to develop women empowerment and education. Since America led inversion that led to the collapse of the Taliban in 2001, Afghanistan has witnessed certain impressive changes. In 2004, Afghanistan constitution was enacted that made men and women equal citizens and reserves 25% of parliament seats for women. Powell (2014) reveals that Afghan government through legal mechanisms promotes women’s participation across all levels of political life and public decision-making, thus encouraging women to be observers, political candidates, and voters. International communities under UN and international NGOs have been giving Afghanistan assistance to empower women.
Afghan government runs community-driven programs at community level although such projects are male dominat...