Education

The key to realizing the economic miracle program sketched above is the implementation of a universal education program for the entire population, both young and old. Obviously, that the Afghan population ranks among those nations with the youngest median age, can become one of the biggest advantages for the future economic prosperity of the country.

Because of the economic conditions left to the government of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan after the departure of NATO, many of the existing teachers could not carry out their profession, due to a lack of payment. The re-installment of all available teachers must be a priority within the economic buildup.

According to information from the Austrian Red Cross, Afghanistan had 14,888 schools of general education, as of May 2020. At that time between 40 and 50 percent of the children did not go regularly to school, mostly because they had to contribute to the family income. A priority must be to find payment for all existing teachers, set up training programs for presently unemployed persons who could become auxiliary teachers, to make sure every child learns to read and write, and all adults as well.

Given the enormous requirements to qualify a predominantly young labor force, a useful reference point is the German “dual system” of apprenticeship, whereby training on the job occurs in the various craft professions, combined with theoretical learning in vocational schools. The real jump to excellence will depend on developing a growing part of the population to become innovative, top-level engineers, skilled workers, and professionals of all kinds. To accomplish this, an integrated system of universities, universities of applied sciences, high schools and basic schools has to be set up. A good reference point is the German Humboldt education system which was the dominant system in much of Europe and the U.S. in the 19th century, and which emphasized those subjects in the curriculum which were most suited to further both the creativity of the student, as well as the beauty of his or her character. Naturally the specific content of the subjects has to be adapted to the culture of Afghanistan and Islam.

The goal of education must be to further the creative potential of the student, and allow him to unfold all the talents embedded in his personality. Contrary to the myth of the neo-liberal theory, the source of wealth of society is neither the possession of raw materials, nor the power to control the terms of trade, but entirely the creativity of the population; the education system must be organized accordingly.

It is the ability of man in the image of the Creator to discover again and again fundamental scientific principles about the laws of the universe. When these discoveries, also called scientific progress, are applied as technological innovation in the production process, they increase the productivity of the production, and they lead to an increase in the living standard. The curriculum therefore must teach the discovery of such principles to every student, rather than textbook formulae. This must go along * * * * * with the aesthetic education through classical art, naturally together with the teaching of the Koran, so that the pupil and student develops a beautiful mind and soul.