Signature Project: Education in Kandahar

One of Canada’s six priorities for moving forward on Afghanistan is to help strengthen the Afghan government’s institutional capacity to deliver core services and promote economic growth, enhancing the confidence of Kandaharis in their government. Through its Education Signature Project, Canada will invest up to $12 million* over three years:

• to build, expand or repair 50 schools in key districts of Kandahar province; and
• to build the capacity of the Ministry of Education to deliver quality educational services.

This project addresses the recommendation of the Independent Panel on Canada’s Future Role in Afghanistan for a major signature project that directly benefits the Afghan people and is clearly identified with Canada.

This project also builds on Canada’s already significant contribution to education in Afghanistan. Canada is currently the lead donor to the national education program—the Education Quality Improvement Program (EQUIP). Canada is also responsible for rolling out the Government of Afghanistan’s national education strategy in Kandahar.

Additional facts

Afghanistan has some of the world’s lowest educational levels. It is estimated that half of all Afghan children do not go to school. Illiteracy is a major development challenge in Afghanistan, particularly in Kandahar, where only 16 percent of Kandaharis are literate (26 percent of men and 5 percent of women).

This low rate is a barrier to employment, other economic opportunities, resources, and services. Teaching women to read, write, and count is especially imperative for the Government of Afghanistan. Research shows that educating women has the greatest developmental benefits for their immediate families and for society at large.

Canada will also support this signature project by training up to 3,000 teachers and providing adult literacy and vocational training.

Funding for this signature project is included in the Government of Canada’s investment of up to $210 million* over the next three years to help the Afghan government deliver basic services.

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* Specific allocations are subject to adjustments in response to changes in the complex Afghan environment.