KABUL, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Education in Afghanistan has reached a critical juncture, with more than 90 percent of 10-year-old children unable to read a simple text, according to a report released by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday.
The report describes the situation as a crisis of "schooling without learning," stressing that sustained investment in early childhood education, as well as foundational literacy and numeracy, is essential to secure learning outcomes for every child.
Despite the alarming learning gaps, millions of students are formally enrolled in the country's education system. A total of 12 million are enrolled in the national school system, where they study modern sciences. Meanwhile, more than 2.8 million students are pursuing religious education, government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said recently.
Meanwhile, millions of Afghan children remain out of school due to poverty, internal displacement, and limited access to educational facilities, particularly in remote and conflict-affected areas, raising concerns about the long-term impact on the country's human capital. ■