Day 11

Three minutes of computer science lessons for a child in Afghanistan

“Power on” at Kabul’s schools “Power on” at Kabul’s schools “Power on” at Kabul’s schools “Power on” at Kabul’s schools

Three minutes of computer science lessons for a child in Afghanistan
Day 11
Computer courses for students in Afghanistan

"What do you want most for your school?" Aria asked many of her students. "A computer," she often hears as an answer. Although the Khwaja Boghra school has an extreme lack of classrooms, meaning that lessons sometimes have to be held outside in hot and cold weather, this is the greatest wish of many students. This is not surprising, because, as in Germany, computer skills are usually a prerequisite for attending high school, university, and many vocational training courses in Afghanistan. The school is located in one of the poorest districts of Kabul. It is provisionally set up and many subjects in the curriculum cannot be taught because there are not enough rooms and teaching materials. As a result, there are no computer science classes. Even after graduating from school, relatively few of the students have computer skills. This is a major obstacle for the students, as it is much more difficult for them to obtain a higher education.

Computer courses for students in Afghanistan
need
Computer courses for schoolchildren to counteract the digital illiteracy rate.
activity
Additional teachers teach the students and at the same time train other teachers in the use of computers.
Measurable performance
Number of hours that the hired teachers can teach.
Result
The students and teachers have relevant computer skills and computer lessons are included in regular classes.
Systemically relevant impact
The opportunities for further education and training as well as future career prospects for the students are improving.
background

Afghanistan was once known for its many tourist attractions and attracted many tourists from all over the world in the 1960s and 1970s. This came to an abrupt end in 1978, when the Communist Party of Afghanistan staged a coup. This led to uprisings among the population. The Soviet Union intervened in the conflict. It supported the new communist leadership, while other major powers such as the USA promoted anti-Soviet resistance groups in the country. The resistance parties grouped themselves around Islamists and other religious leaders. After the Soviet Union withdrew from Afghanistan in 1992, a civil war broke out that brought the Taliban to power. Afghanistan became an Islamist emirate. In the autumn of 2001, the USA carried out a military operation in Afghanistan and overthrew the Taliban. A new government was installed and Taliban supporters fled to Pakistan. From there, the Taliban are still waging an armed conflict with the new Afghan government.

Due to the long fighting, political unrest and destruction, the country is still unstable 40 years after the start of the war. Poverty is very high. According to the United Nations, 98.2 percent of the population has less than three euros a day (UNDP, 2018). The wars have destroyed around 70 percent of schools and, despite compulsory schooling, only around 30 percent of children between the ages of seven and 13 go to school. The illiteracy rate is over 70 percent (LiPortal, 2019). While students are given the privilege of going to school despite their everyday challenges, learning is made more difficult by the lack of basic facilities. The poor educational situation reduces the children's chances of escaping their precarious situation in the long term. Due to numerous recent attacks, promoting the education sector has become a less important political priority. Nevertheless, the country and especially the children need support in rebuilding the country right now so that the political situation can really stabilize.

Kabul, Afghanistan
Day 11 Day 11
The good deed

Your donation today will enable computer courses for pupils at the Khwaja Boghra primary and secondary school in Kabul. With each additional donation, more pupils can acquire basic IT skills in practical lessons using computers every day. The aim is for two teachers to each give at least two hours of lessons per day so that all pupils in grade 9 can take part. The courses will become a general part of the normal curriculum and will thus counteract the “digital illiteracy rate”. The courses will teach computer skills as an important key qualification for pupils. Local teachers also take part in the lessons and thus acquire computer skills too. In the following years, they will then be able to actively design the computer lessons themselves, step by step.

AboutAfghanistan
Kabul
Kabul
Capital city
35,500,000
35,500,000
Population
1.824
1.824
Gross domestic product per capita per year
Rank 168 of 189
Rank 168 of 189
Human Development Index (Human Development Index)

Afghanistan is in the bottom third of developed countries. Despite compulsory schooling, only about 30 percent of children between the ages of 7 and 13 go to school.