**A Decade Of Investment: Examining The Us's Educational Legacy In Afghanistan**

Afghanistan has one of the youngest populations in the world, and quality education is critical to boosting economic growth and democratic development. Since 2001, the US has spent billions of dollars on nation-building in Afghanistan, including the construction of schools. While the exact number of schools built by the US is unclear, various sources indicate that the US has helped increase access to education for millions of Afghan children, particularly girls. However, there have also been reports of inflated enrollment numbers and schools lying abandoned and in disrepair.

The US Army built 53 schools in Khost province in 15 months

The US Army's construction of 53 schools in Khost Province, Afghanistan, in just 15 months is an impressive achievement and a testament to their logistical prowess and commitment to improving access to education for children in poor countries. This feat becomes even more remarkable when considering the challenges posed by the region's difficult terrain and security issues.

Khost Province is located in eastern Afghanistan along the border with Pakistan. The province is characterised by the Khost Valley and the surrounding mountains, with natural forests bordering Pakistan and Paktia. The population of Khost Province is predominantly Pashtun, with a small percentage of Tajiks and other ethnic minorities.

The US Army's efforts to build schools in Khost Province began in January 2007 and continued until the end of March 2008. During this 15-month period, they successfully constructed 53 schools, and they have since broken ground on 25 more. This initiative had a significant impact on education in the province, as school attendance surged from 38,000 students in 2002, with only 3,000 girls, to 210,000 students at the start of the 2008 school year. Notably, 21% of these students were girls, which is a notable step forward in this deeply conservative region.

The construction of these schools was not without challenges. Khost Province is located in a high-risk area that experiences rocket and mortar attacks. The Khost Resident Office team, which managed the construction project, faced logistical hurdles and endured rocket attacks from insurgents during the building process. Despite these difficulties, the US Army's dedication to the project resulted in the completion of the Terezayi compound, one of six compounds located in Khost Province, in a little over three years.

While the US Army played a crucial role in constructing the schools, it is important to note that they do not staff or operate the educational institutions. That responsibility falls to the Afghan government, which has produced mixed results due to the limited number of literate individuals available to serve as teachers in the region.

The US Army's school-building achievements in Khost Province exemplify their positive impact on the local community. By providing essential infrastructure, they have laid the foundation for improved access to education, which is critical for the development and empowerment of the region's youth.

The US spent hundreds of millions of dollars on schools in Afghanistan

The US has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on building schools in Afghanistan. In 2002, fewer than a million Afghan children were enrolled in school, and none of them were girls. Today, more than 8 million young Afghans are attending school, including 2.5 million girls.

The US Army has been instrumental in building schools in Afghanistan, particularly in rural and conservative areas. In the eastern Afghan province of Khost, the US Army built 53 schools in 15 months, with 25 more under construction. School attendance in the province has increased significantly, with 210,000 students at the beginning of the 2008 school year, 21% of whom were girls.

USAID has also played a crucial role in improving access to education in Afghanistan. Since 2008, USAID has helped increase access to education for 3 million Afghan girls, many for the first time in their lives. Student enrollment has grown to more than 9.5 million students, 39% of whom are girls, as of 2020.

However, there have been challenges and setbacks. The Taliban has burned down hundreds of schools in Afghanistan over the last 25 years, and their takeover of the country in 2021 led to the suspension of secondary education for girls. Additionally, there have been concerns about wasteful spending and mismanagement of funds allocated for school construction.

Despite these issues, the US has made significant progress in improving access to education in Afghanistan, particularly for girls, and has contributed to the development of the country's education system.

The US Army does not staff the schools it builds

In Afghanistan, primary and secondary education are under the Ministry of Education, while higher education is under the Ministry of Higher Education. In 2021, there were nearly 10 million students and 220,000 teachers in Afghanistan. However, the nation still requires more schools and teachers. The lack of qualified teachers is a significant issue in Afghanistan, especially in rural areas.

According to a 2007 report by Afghanistan's then-Education Minister, Mohammad Hanif Atmar, 60% of students were studying in tents or other unprotected structures, and some parents refused to let their daughters attend schools in such conditions. The lack of adequate school infrastructure is a pressing issue, with nearly half of all schools lacking proper buildings or facilities.

The low enrollment rates, particularly among girls, are also concerning. In 2015, it was estimated that 3.7 million children were out of school in Afghanistan, with 60% of them being girls. Insecure environments, traditional norms and practices related to women's roles, and a lack of female teachers contribute to low female enrollment.

To address these challenges, the Afghan government, with support from international organizations, has been working to improve access to education. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has played a significant role in this regard. Since 2008, USAID has helped increase access to education for three million Afghan girls. They have also provided scholarships to nearly 11,500 women to become teachers and extended learning opportunities to girls in rural areas.

Despite these efforts, there are still significant obstacles to education in Afghanistan, including a lack of funding, qualified teachers, and adequate infrastructure. The Taliban's restrictions on girls' and women's education further compound these challenges.

The US built schools next to empty schools

The US has spent hundreds of millions of dollars over the past decade to build schools in Afghanistan. According to the US Agency for International Development, fewer than a million Afghan children were enrolled in school in 2002, and none of them were girls. Today, more than 8 million young Afghans are attending schools, including 2.5 million girls.

However, a 2015 BuzzFeed article by reporter Azmat Khan accuses the US Agency for International Development (USAID) of using inflated enrollment numbers and exaggerating the number of schools built with US help that are currently operating. Khan and her team spot-checked more than 50 such schools and found a disturbing reality. Many of the buildings they visited resembled abandoned buildings with collapsing roofs, protruding electrical wires, shattered glass, boarded-up windows, and broken furniture.

In addition, there were vast discrepancies between the number of children on the books and those actually attending. Khan described a school she visited in the Zhari District of Afghanistan that was built in an area without a local population. Many of the elders she spoke with told her that they never understood why the school was built there in the first place.

Moreover, a Special Forces officer interviewed for the Lessons Learned project stated that the US was "building schools next to empty schools, and it just didn't make sense." He further added that the local Afghans made it clear that "they didn't really want schools. They said they wanted their kids out herding goats."

Despite these issues, the US military's efforts in school construction have been significant, with the US Army building 53 schools in the eastern Afghan province of Khost in just 15 months from January 2007 to the end of March 2008. School attendance in this province has risen from 38,000 in 2002, with 3,000 girls attending, to 210,000 at the beginning of the 2008 school year, with 21% being girls.

While the US has made considerable progress in constructing schools in Afghanistan, issues such as inflated enrollment numbers, empty schools, and a lack of local population in certain areas highlight the need for better planning and coordination in future development efforts.

The US built schools in areas without local populations

The US has built schools in Afghanistan in areas without local populations. In her article for The World, Shirin Jaafari mentions a school built by the US in the Zhari district of Afghanistan. The school was built in an area that did not have a local population. Many of the elders she spoke with told her that they never understood why the school was built there in the first place.

The US has spent hundreds of millions of dollars over the past decade to build schools in war-torn Afghanistan. According to the US Agency for International Development, fewer than a million Afghan children were enrolled in school in 2002, none of whom were girls. Today, more than 8 million young Afghans are attending schools, including 2.5 million girls.

In his article for Forbes, Ann Marlowe mentions that the US Army built 53 schools in one eastern Afghan province, Khost, from January 2007 to the end of March 2008. School attendance in the million-population province rose from 38,000 in 2002, with 3,000 girls attending, to 210,000 at the beginning of the 2008 school year in March, 21% of whom were girls.

However, Greg Mortenson, who built 55 schools over a decade in some of the most remote parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan, refused $2.2 million from a man in a well-tailored civilian suit to build schools next to all the Wahabi madrasas in Baltistan, Pakistan. Mortenson refused the money, fearing for his "credibility" if associated with the US military.

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