UN Envoy Concerned Over High Illiteracy Rates in Afghanistan
The UN Special Representative for Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva, has voiced deep concern over the country's low literacy rates, placing Afghanistan among the most illiterate nations globally.
Kokcha News Agency – Speaking at the Kabul Book Festival, Otunbayeva stated that only 50% of Afghan men and about 20% of Afghan women are literate.
She urged investors and entrepreneurs to actively promote literacy and support local book publishing.
Hayatullah Mohajer Farahi, Deputy Minister of Publications, highlighted the Islamic Emirate’s efforts to promote reading, noting that domestically printed books are now tax-exempt and that the ministry has organized several book fairs.
However, educators and cultural figures cite ongoing challenges such as a shortage of public libraries, restricted operating hours, and insufficient facilities, hindering progress.
University professor Ziaur Rahman Laghmani emphasized the importance of books for national development and character building.
The Kabul Book Festival occurs amid restrictions on girls’ education, with schools closed to girls above the sixth grade and universities remaining off-limits. Experts warn that barring girls from education significantly hinders national development and self-reliance, stressing the government’s duty to ensure inclusive and equitable access to learning for all.
