Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Afghanistan's Ministry of Education for new commitments to support the out-of-school children (OOSC) education project in Afghanistan. This came during a meeting between HE the Director-General of QFFD, Khalifa bin Jassim al-Kuwari, and Afghan Education Minister Habibullah Agha Haqqani. The projects aim to enroll 30,000 out-of-school primary children, 50% of those children are girls, in several provinces across Afghanistan.
The joint three-year project: "Providing Access to Learning Opportunities to OOSC in Afghanistan," — targets the most out-of-school children in need, including girls and students with disabilities. It will work with community-based education schools to construct and refurbish classrooms and improve wash facilities.
It will also provide training for community-based educators and aim to recruit more teachers and engage key stakeholders in the enrolment and retention of students.
HE al-Kuwari said: "We believe that education is one the most important pillars toward the prosperity of the LDCs. Unfortunately, 3.7mn children are out-of-school in Afghanistan today, and 60% are girls. And through this MoU, we are targeting 30,000 OOSC in Afghanistan, 50% of whom are girls. This is part of our vision to support fair access to education for all."
CEO of Education Above All, Fahad al-Sulaiti, added: "The signing represents a significant landmark for the children of Afghanistan. These projects will have a positive impact on the opportunities for marginalised children in and enable them to attain a brighter future for themselves and their families."
The agreement with Afghanistan demonstrates QFFD and EAA's ongoing commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, with an emphasis on SDG4 "ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all" by 2030.
