Through intensive education programs and training, children and teachers are coming back to school. To help the older girls who were banned from schools under the Taliban, USAID is giving special emphasis to accelerated programs that will help them catch up. Once the young women reach university levels, they may find a place at the soon-to-be restored Women's Dormitory at the University of Kabul.

Despite their meager surroundings, these students are excited to be in school. They have brand new textbooks and a newly trained teacher, who is working hard to give them a solid education.

The teacher, Zarmina, 29, is the daughter of a local commander and teaches students in the accelerated learning program in Behsood, Jalalabad. These programs give more than 180,000 older and out-of-school students, 70 percent of whom are girls, the chance to get a basic education. "Communities didn't dare send children to school during the communists' rule, fearing they would be converted to communism," Zarmina said. "During the Taliban regime, the ban on girls' education and female employment further worsened the situation of girls and made them more vulnerable. Now lots of parents are waiting in line to get their children educated. If we had educated mothers, we would have been the leaders of tomorrow." Photo: Katy Anis/Creative Associates International, Inc.

Eleven-year-old Laili is attending her first year of formal schooling in Afghanistan. Her mother, Karima, is one of her teachers at the newly repaired Lyceum Mariam girls' school in Kabul. It took five months to repair the 40-classroom school, which now serves 8,200 students and has a science lab, library and health clinic. Photo: IOM-ATI Staff

In Afghanistan, girls of all ages have returned eagerly to school. With renovated classrooms and new textbooks and supplies, they are now learning to read and write and are preparing to become strong contributors to their country's future. Photo: Alejandro Chicheri/WFP