KABUL: Nine in 10 ten-year-old children in Afghanistan lack basic reading skills, the United Nations has warned, highlighting the scale of the country’s education crisis as millions of girls remain barred from school.
Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF’s representative in Afghanistan, highlighted the figure while marking International Literacy Day, observed globally on September 8.
In a post on X, Oyewale stressed children’s right to education and called for greater investment in literacy, saying nine out of 10 Afghan children aged 10 still struggle to acquire basic reading skills.
Afghanistan Faces Literacy Crisis
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) also marked the occasion by describing literacy as a fundamental human right and stressing Afghans’ right to education and meaningful participation in society.
Globally, at least 739 million young people and adults still lack basic literacy skills, according to the UN mission.
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Afghanistan faces particularly severe challenges. Around 2.2 million girls have been deprived of schooling since the Taliban returned to power and imposed restrictions on female education.
UNESCO has warned that if the restrictions remain in place until 2030, more than four million Afghan girls could be deprived of education.
The restrictions have also raised concerns about wider social consequences, including increased risks of child, early and forced marriage.
Previous UN estimates indicate that around 50 per cent of Afghan men and 80 per cent of women are illiterate.
UN agencies stress that literacy extends beyond simply reading and writing, encompassing the skills people need to improve their lives and participate meaningfully in society.
