BAMIAN – Rahila sits in front of her house, intent on her lessons. But she is not a schoolgirl – she is a 30-year old mother of three who has recently begun a literacy course in her village in the Aizdah area of Bamian city.

“In the past, because of the war and the lack of educational training centers, I could not get an education,” she said, smiling.  “I was in darkness. But fortunately, after the fall of the Taliban, there was an opportunity for education in Bamian. I was very interested and my husband encouraged me to join my village’s literacy course. I started four years ago and now I am in the sixth class. I can read my books and I write very well. I want to continue so I can finish high school.”

Rahila is one of dozens of women who are learning to read and write in Bamian.

With the support of Bamian’s governor, Habiba Surabi, the only woman to head a provincial government in Afghanistan, a literacy campaign has been launched all over the province. The results have been encouraging: literacy rates among women are the highest of all of the country’s provinces – over 40 percent, up from near zero a decade ago.

Bamian is a bit more liberal in this regard than other provinces in Afghanistan. It is not seen as shameful for men to allow their wives to attend courses.

 “I am very interested in education,” said Ali, Rahila’s 34-year-old husband. “I was only able to finish eighth grade. I could not continue my education due to economic problems.” Ali is a bit envious of his wife, but he had pledged to help her and his children complete their education.

 “I encourage my wife and my children to finish higher education,” he said. “I do not want them to be a burden to the society in the future.”

Sumia Rahimi, who has been teaching Rahila’s course for the past four years, says that many women including Rahila are able to read and write now. She is proud of being able to help these women.

 “Women have a lot of talent and they can learn their lessons very easily,” she says. “I am proud of teaching these women, most whom are as old as my mother.”

“I am proud of teaching these women, most whom are as old as my mother.”

The literacy campaign has touched many of Bamian’s residents who, for various reasons had been unable to get an education during the years of war and upheaval.

Mustafa, a young man of 18, joined a literacy course in the Surkh Qual area of Bamian city two years ago.

“I am very interested in education,” he said. “I was unable to go to school in the past, but since I joined this course I have completed four grades, and am now in the fifth.  I want to continue my education so that I can be a good teacher in the future.”

The provincial government takes great pride in its accomplishments.

“People’s interest to education has been raised over the past ten years,” said Mohammad Reza Aada, the head of Bamian’s Department of Education. “We were able to educate many people, both men and women, through literacy courses.”

According to Aada, more than 60 percent of the students in those courses are women.

“Those who successfully finish their literacy courses will be admitted to secondary schools,” he said. “A few weeks ago, thousands men and women finished a one-year literacy course. They are now ready to continue their education.”