AWCCI Magazines Afghan Women in Business vol 4 | Page 35

Women’s Education Leads to Economic Growth By Meena Rahmani Women’s education is one of the fundamental variables sure on the national economy, and will lead to a more re- behind the rates of socio-economic development of a silient society (Equality for Peace and Democracy, 2015). country (M.Anne, Elizabeth, 2010). Women inclusive education is a significant element of progression for every Besides, increased access to education will help women development outcome, from mortality declines to pro- improve intellectually and morally, overcoming barriers ductivity, employment, investment, poverty alleviation, to employment, raising their incomes, and developing and every possible economic growth. leadership roles within their families, communities, and country as a whole. No nation can achieve sustainable economic develop- ment disregarding the economic presence and contribu- Although skilled women’s entry to the formal market tion of women that make up nearly half of the human is projected to be economically sound for Afghanistan, capital. The economic participation of women in their women education in the country witnessed several ups families, communities, and society as a whole, requiring and downs due to the years of continuous conflicts, in- women access to formal education and improving their security, poverty, displacement, and discrimination that knowledge and skills to cope with the rapidly transform- drove millions of females out of schools. According to ing environment. the government statistics in 2017, 3.5 million children are According to “The Asia Foundation” releases, lack of ac- out of school, where 85 percent of them are girls (Human cess to quality formal education for Afghan women hin- Rights Watch, 2017). These alarming statistics questions dering their participation in the economy and resulting in the future socio-economic sustainability of the nation. an immeasurable financial loss for the country (Dunne, 2014). Despite the fact that the international community con- tinued to provide education funds, these efforts remained The economic contribution of women does not only limit insufficient in accommodating the 85% of 3.5 million to an increase in the labor force of the country but also girls to access schools. This needs careful consideration reflects an increase in the investment and job creation from the government actors to incorporate gender inclu- figures. The 2019 figures of “Afghan Women Chamber sive education as a critical developmental issue in govern- of Commerce and Industry “ show a rise of up to $77 ment policies. million women-led investment in Afghanistan, provid- The allocation of funds is not the sole remedy for address- ing 77000 job opportunities for the labor force across the ing girls’ education issues in Afghanistan; the root of the country (Tolo News, 2019). This implies a tremendous problem needs adopting sustainable approaches to cope rise in the investment and employment figures given if with the discriminatory mindset of communities against more education and training opportunities are provided women education and protect and defend the rights of to Afghan women. women to acquire formal education and pave the way for women access into the labor market. According to the statistics, brining more Afghan women in education will drastically increase labor productivity by The entry of the skilled girlforce will be the start of a new 25%, raise the bar of GDP, reduces the dependency pres- chapter in the economy of Afghanistan. Dunne, P. (2014, August 7). Securing a Place for Afghan Women in the Workplace? Retrieved 2019, from https://asiafoundation.org/2014/03/05/securing-a-place-for-afghan-women-in-the-workplace/ Equality for Peace and Democracy. (2015). Barriers to Women Entrepreneurs’Access to Markets. EQUALITY for Peace and Democracy. Kabul: EQUALITY for Peace and Democracy. Human Rights Watch. (2017, Octobar 17). Afghanistan: Girls Struggle for an Education. Retrieved December 06, 2019, from HRW: https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/10/17/afghanistan-girls-struggle-education King, M. A. (2010). Women’s education and economic well-being. The international scholarly journal of the International Association for Feminist Economics (IAFFE) , 1 (2), 21-46. Tolo News. (2019, February 10). AWCCI Releases Figures On Women Entrepreneurs. Retrieved December 08, 2019, from https://tolonews.com/business/ awcci-releases-figures-women-entrepreneurs AFGHAN WOMEN IN BUSINESS #BuyFromAfghanWomenBusinesses 30