Scenarios+and+Requirements


 * Scenario 1:** **Girls not allowed to be educated**

For quite a while, men and women have been treated differently in most regions in Afghanistan. Since the Taliban takeover, they have implemented several laws that citizens must abide by. For example, Women have been forbidden from working outside the home, except in limited circumstances in the medical field. The Taliban have also prohibited women from attending school. Obviously this impacts the literacy rate in Afghanistan as men and young boys are given the opportunity for education, while women are expected to cater to their husbands and children. With the help of Knowledge Works, women and girls are given equal opportunity to acquire proper education and enhance their knowledge in a safe and secure environment.


 * Resources: http://www.state.gov/www/global/women/fs_980310_women_afghan.html**

As previously discussed, one of the major, and underrepresented, issues in Afghanistan’s education system is the inability for women to attend schools. As a result, there is a significant difference in the literacy rate between men and women. Statistics show that male literacy rate in Kabul is 72.7%, while female literacy rate is 55.7%. It is evident that Afghan females are oppressed and devalued of their rights. KnowledgeWorks introduces an education system in Afghanistan that allows for equal learning opportunity for males //and// females. Since most parents don’t allow their daughters to be taught by a male instructor, KnowledgeWorks provides educated female instructors that cater to Afghan females. Schools that are administered by KnowledgeWorks and UNESCO will have classes run by male instructors and others run by female instructors. In doing so, unprivileged young girls and adolescent women have a chance to attend school without any complications. Afghan women have also been restricted from going to school because they’re expected to cater to their families and be raised as housewives. KnowledgeWorks provides evening classes for those young women. That way, they can learn domestic work during the day and attend school in the evening. Such classes will be held the exact same way as those held during the day. It is important to note that Knowledge Works improves Afghanistan’s education system as well as abiding by their laws and norms. Since the Taliban have strict cultural norms and values, they would assume that KnowledgeWorks is imposing Western views and norms. However, we aim to have a fine balance between Afghanistan’s norms and values while offering equal and safe education systems for every child.
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 * Scenario 2: Lack of education infrastructure**

A major problem that concerns education in Afghanistan is the lack of education infrastructure. Students are forced to learn in plastic shelters; in summer and winter. Students don’t have chairs to sit on or tables to put their books on. Only about 40% of schools operate in buildings, the rest however are in the UNICEF-funded shelters. Most buildings were severely damaged due to the war. In some areas, school buildings and other facilities were demolished or burned down. School equipments and furniture were stolen.

Najafizada, Maysam. "Afghanistan: Education in a War Zone." //Open Society Institute and Soros Foundations Network //. 13 Feb. 2009. Web. .
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Since environment is one of the major hindrances in children recieving an education in Afghanistan, Knowledge Works will provide them with the ability to learn from inside their own homes. Each child will have their own laptop, and will be able to create their own learning environment. They will be able to interact acitvely with the teachers, thus will not be at a loss by not physically being in a classroom. They will also have the opportunity to learn in UNESCO compounds, where the environment will be protected and much safer than the school buildings existent now.
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 * Scenario 3: Going to school is a safety hazard**

Most of us are aware of the financial restraints Afghanistan faces in terms of providing education to children. But what we may not be aware of is there are deeper problems at hand. Aside from being unable to afford it, many parents are simply not comfortable sending their children (specifically girls) to schools. This is not to be confused with gender inequality issues, though. The streets of Afghanistan have become too treacherous for young girls to be walking in, even if they are just walking to school. It's not just the threat of being kidnapped though: many buildings are simply not safe enough. In the case of a bomb explosion or fire, the walls would not put up a good enough fight, and due to the poverty they face, they are unable to invest in creating a safer environment. Because of these conditions, parents are hesitant to send their girls to school - in some cases boys, too. "In Afghanistan, out of conflict and into school." //The World Bank.// 11 Nov. 2004. Web. <[]>
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Since we are collaborting with UNESCO and OLPC, this problem is relatively easily solved. The children will have access to the internet, which will enable them to take lessons and study in the safety of their own home. Parents and guardians will no longer need to send their children out on an unsafe journey to school and the children will still recieve just as good, if not a better education.
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 * Scenario 4: Restraints on Afghani Teachers**

One of the main challenges Afghan teachers face throughout their career has to be the consequences of doing their job. It's not the lack of funding of supplies and equipment, or salaries that worry teachers, but the instability and security issues of their occupation that teachers of Afghanistan doubt. The reason being is the numerous and continuous death threats they receive from the Taliban. There have been cases where teachers are beheaded for teaching children to read and write. This has become a major fear for most teachers of Afghanistan. The process begins with the Taliban leaving death threats in the form of letters dropped off on their doorsteps while they sleep. Evidently, this causes safety issues for teachers and the well-being of their families.


 * Resources: http://www.oct.ca/publications/professionally_speaking/december_2006/afghanistan.asp**

This problem can be easily solved with the help of UNESCO. Rather than teachers having to be seen by the Taliban at regular schools where they teach children, they'll be able to teach from UNESCO compounds, which provide safety and security for all their staff members. Afghan teachers benefit from this collaboration by eliminating the continuous threats they constantly receive, keeping them and their families safe.
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