Developments in Education Tested by Violence (The Culture and Conflict Review, Volume 1, Number 2, December 2007); Journal

摘要

Persistent and tragic violence has threatened one of the most important aspects of development in Afghanistan. Education provides not only short-term success in offering employment, training, and opportunity for the people of Afghanistan, but it also ensures long-term success in the process of developing that nation's human potential and promoting a tolerant, democratic society. Since 2001, school enrollment in Afghanistan has increased from 900, 000 to nearly 5.4 million. However, exceptional gains in education have been met with rising violence from totalitarian insurgent groups seeking to undermine development and the legitimacy of the Afghan government. To ensure the success of long-term development, education must be protected from the violence of insurgents. Education is an essential component of human capital and security. An educated youth will provide a new generation of moderate leaders and a skilled workforce -- necessary components of a developed society. A noted economist, Gary S. Becker, has written that 'Indeed, in a modern economy, human capital is by far the most important form of capital in creating wealth and growth.' With limited or deprived education levels, long-term economic development and stability will be jeopardized. Since the fall of the Taliban, the education component of human capital has been threatened by rising levels of violence throughout unprotected areas in Afghanistan. To demonstrate the viciousness of attacks and their collateral results, in southern Afghanistan, more than 200,000 boys and girls were deprived of education after over 150 schools were set ablaze by insurgents in 2006, according to the Ministry of Education in Kabul. The Ministry also reported this year that over 400 schools remain closed in the south, east, and central part of the country due to violence.