in both languages. Many Pashai people could not find good jobs because they could not read or write. Many Pashai children did not start school and of those who did start, many dropped out after one or two years.
What are the programme goals?
The programme goal has two parts. The first goal is that Pashai students will build a strong foundation in reading and writing in their mother tongue( MT) and gradually transfer their literacy skills to Pashto, the official school language in their area. The second goal is that students will develop confidence in themselves as learners, first in their MT and then in Pashto.
Which agencies or organizations support the programme?
The Pashai MTB BE programme is supported by Serve Afghanistan, an international nongovernment organization( INGO). Other INGOs have also supported the programme: TearFund Australia, Tearfund UK, Tearfund New Zealand and SIL International have all provided financial and / or technical support.
Does the programme have policy support?
In 2004 the Afghan government’ s new constitution included permission for the development and use of minority languages in education. The Pashai programme was given official status in 2006 by the local government and, in 2007, by the national government through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Education. In 2014 the government finalized its“ Inclusive and Child Friendly Education” policy. This policy includes a statement on the right of Afghan children to be educated in their mother tongue.
MTB MLE RESOURCE KIT Including the Excluded: Promoting Multilingual Education
When did the programme begin and how did it grow?
The Pashai Language Development Programme began in 1999. In the beginning, the focus was on teaching Pashai adults to read and write Pashto, the dominant language in this part of the country. This was because minority languages had not yet been approved for use in education and also because Pashai had not yet been put into written form.
In 2003, Pashai community leaders established a Pashai Language Committee. MT speakers developed the Pashai alphabet with linguistic support from SIL International.
In 2006, with permission from the Provincial government, the Pashai literacy team established MT literacy courses for boys. Students in these courses, which lasted two and a half years, learned to read and write in their MT and then also in Pashto.
In 2007, with permission from the central government, the literacy team established Pashai literacy classes for girls and then added classes for adult women. These classes followed the same pattern as the classes for boys.
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