The chronic under-representation of women in higher education in Afghanistan – both among students and staff – is the focus of a US$1 million initiative, announced last week by The Asia Foundation . The organization will offer university scholarships to academically qualified and financially disadvantaged women, in a program called “The Carnegie Corporation Scholarship for Afghan Women”.

A total of 88 university scholarships will be provided, including 78 for female undergraduate students and 10 for women professors to enroll for an advanced degree, with the recipients representing all regions of Afghanistan.

Due to the former Taliban regime, there is still a big female illiteracy rate. Improvements were made, but Afghanistan is still dealing with women facing significant barriers in gaining a university or postgraduate education.

source: http://www.guninetwork.org / Global University Network for Innovation / Home> Asia & The Pacific