One day's rent in a dormitory for a student in Afghanistan

In the 1960s, Afghanistan was at its economic peak thanks to foreign investment. The Afghan education system also flourished: numerous schools were opened in the larger cities and the proportion of male and female students was equal (MGFA, 2009). The almost ten-year occupation (1979-1989) by the Soviet Union and the resistance of Islamic groups (mujahideen) led to brutal fighting that killed and displaced millions of people and destroyed the economy and the education system (MGFA, 2009). In the course of their seizure of power, the Taliban introduced a school system based on their radical Islamic ideas in 1996. Education was simply forbidden for girls and women. In the Koran schools that were now opened, the teaching of Islam had priority, and beyond that only basic reading, spelling and arithmetic skills were taught (MGFA, 2009). Since the fall of the Taliban in 2001, the situation has improved. Nevertheless, in 2011, 70% of the population was still illiterate (BMZ, 2011), and there is no intellectual elite (MGFA, 2009). Almost all higher education institutions need to be built up and demand exceeds supply: in the last four years, around 200,000 school leavers have waited in vain for a place at university (Goethe Institute, 2014; TAZ, 2014). The costs of higher education are unaffordable for many families. It is no wonder that potentially qualified people are emigrating.