EU Announces Expanded Education Support in Afghanistan
DID Press: EU announced an expansion of its education support in Afghanistan, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring access to quality education for all children, on the occasion of International Education Day.
In a statement issued on Saturday (Jan. 24), the EU said it is working through multi-million-euro investments and partnerships with international organizations to ensure that no child is left out of education, stressing that education is a fundamental right for every child.
According to the statement, the EU has allocated €6 million under the “FAKHR” project, implemented in cooperation with Save the Children, to improve access to safe, high-quality and gender-responsive education. The initiative focuses in particular on out-of-school children, girls and children with disabilities.
The EU also said it is implementing literacy and technical and vocational skills programmes for 7,500 young people and adults in five Afghan provinces, through a €4.7 million partnership with UNESCO. These programmes incorporate parenting education, adopting a comprehensive approach to developing future generations.
In support of students’ livelihoods, the EU has allocated nearly €20 million to the World Food Programme (WFP) to implement school feeding programmes. The initiative aims to improve student retention for both girls and boys, enhance nutrition and strengthen household resilience.
In addition, €25 million has been invested through UNICEF to maintain the functionality of public schools. This support includes the protection of teachers and improvements to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services, helping to ensure safe and suitable learning environments for children.
The EU said these measures demonstrate its sustained commitment to education and to the future of children and young people in Afghanistan.