[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 40 (Friday, April 12, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E514-E515]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                   BACK-TO-SCHOOL DAY IN AFGHANISTAN

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 11, 2002

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I applaud the children, families, and 
teachers of Afghanistan for celebrating their first back-to-school

[[Page E515]]

day to welcome both girls and boys since the fall of the Taliban 
regime. I would especially like to honor the female teachers and 
students of Afghanistan who were not allowed to teach or go to school 
for the past five years, and the many who continued to do so despite 
the risk to their own lives.
  In our mission to eradicate terrorism, the U.S. has recognized the 
importance of supporting education in Afghanistan. In addition to $2 
million pledged to UNICEF for their Back-to-School campaign, $6.5 
million of the $296 million we designated for reconstruction has gone 
to printing textbooks.
  I commend the UNICEF-sponsored Back-to-School campaign for working 
hard on the ground to get over 1.5 million children into a learning 
environment by March 21, the first day of school across the country. 
Their logistical efforts included delivering kits of over 50 separate 
teaching and learning tools to schools, teachers, and students; 
providing 40,000 stationery kits, 10,000 School-in-a-Box kits, 7.8 
million textbooks, and 18,000 chalkboards to schools across the 
country; having all Afghan children vaccinated for the measles; 
combating malnutrition among Afghan children; and communicating the 
positive message of the campaign to all parents in the country.
  I praise the Afghan Interim Government for playing a critical role in 
this campaign and making education a priority. It has been 
heartbreaking to hear about so many girls having to take tremendous 
risks to sneak to school while their country was under Taliban rule and 
the horrific punishments they endured if caught. I was in awe of the 
courage of so many female teachers who ran underground schools because 
of their commitment to educating children. It has been so inspiring to 
hear stories of Afghan girls so eager to learn that they weathered 
harsh conditions to return to school as soon as the Taliban left town, 
well before the official first day of school.
  As the children and teachers in Afghanistan embrace this renewed 
opportunity for education, we must realize that this is just the 
beginning and view our continued support as critical. I urge this body 
and this government to continue to enhance our efforts to ensure that 
each year all children in Afghanistan can celebrate back-to-school day 
with joy and anticipation, without fear.

                          ____________________