Afghan girls' education in danger, aid groups warn

(Reuters) - Girls' education in Afghanistan, one of the biggest gains for women since the 2001 overthrow of the Taliban, is at risk because of insecurity, lack of funds and equipment and poor teacher-training, aid groups said on Thursday.
Women's education was banned under the government of the hardline Islamist group, now leading a growing insurgency, with only an estimated 5,000 girls in school.
There are 2.4 million girls enrolled at school, but around 20 percent do not attend classes regularly. Those who do make it to school face obstacles including open-air classrooms and a journey of up to three hours each way, said the "High Stakes" report.
More than a third of the interviewees said insecurity was a major obstacle to education, with parents keeping their daughters home after a string of attacks on girls' schools.
A shortage of female teachers -- as few as one in every hundred educators in the most conservative or unstable areas -- also limits girls' hopes of getting more than a primary education, all that most of their peers receive.
Access to learning for women has become emblematic of the positive changes Western donors have tried to bring about as they poured billions of dollars into Afghanistan.
But development groups working to improve women's position fear that Western governments' focus is on handing over security responsibilities to Afghan troops by 2014, and starting the withdrawal from a war that voters back home are tiring of.
"It's crucial donor governments sustain their support for development, especially education, even once their troops leave," said Abdul Waheed Hamidy, of Co-ordination for Humanitarian Assistance, an Afghan NGO which contributed to the research.
"Investing in education is vital for the future of Afghanistan. An educated woman is better able to stand up for her interests, raise a healthier family and contribute to the economy."
The report was compiled by 16 Afghan and foreign aid groups, including Oxfam and CARE. Researchers spoke to more than 1,600 girls, parents and teachers across half of Afghanistan's 34 provinces.
At age 18, just 18 per cent of Afghan girls are still in school compared with 42 per cent of boys.
Poverty, early marriage and poor security were the main reasons girls had to drop out of school, the report said.

It's showtime, but the Reds aren't coming to provide the entertainment, says Genia

Tah man needs a wife

Greg and Steve ponder Melbourne's grim reaper debut. Will Guinness Girl help Tah Man fight off the Reds peril.

QUEENSLAND bluntly rejected suggestions they are under pressure to play razzle-dazzle rugby in tomorrow's match against the Waratahs.
NSW coach Chris Hickey lit the fuse yesterday by claiming the Reds would have to deliver on pre-season talk of being the tournament's entertainers but halfback Will Genia declared the burden was on the Waratahs to enliven ANZ Stadium.
''I guess when you're the self-proclaimed entertainers it puts a lot of pressure on you to turn up and entertain, doesn't it? And that same pressure's there this week to bring their entertaining game to the table,'' '' Hickey mused.

 

 

Tuning up ... Waratahs halfback Luke Burgess, training at Moore Park yesterday, says the home side is ‘‘looking to express ourselves, not hold back or be reserved’’ against the Reds. Photo: Ben Rushton

But when asked if that was the case, Genia told the Herald: ''Not at all. We're not coming there to entertain the Waratahs crowd; that is their job. We're coming to win a rugby game, and it doesn't matter how we do it, we're after the result.''
The Wallabies halfback revealed Queensland would target the breakdown this week after the Western Force dominated the ruck area in the Reds' narrow victory in round one.
''It didn't feel like we played a game, to be honest. We just didn't have the ball,'' Genia said. ''We spent the whole game chasing kicks, and tackling. We sat down and had a look at the Tahs, and the biggest focus for us is our breakdown. That will be the biggest test for us this week. We need to win our ball before anything else.
''Even though we couldn't get any rhythm [against the Force], we managed to win, and that is huge for us. We had to find a way, and we won ugly. It is all about results.
''We can try our best to play the style of footy we know we can but sometimes the game doesn't flow that way, and it is good to know we can win playing ugly, too. We know when we have the ball we can attack.
''It has been said throughout the week that a couple of years ago, had we been in the same game against the Force, we would have capitulated. This time we showed a lot of mental toughness, and that is an attribute that gives us a lot of confidence for the rest of the year.''
Genia's opponent this week is also his rival for the Wallabies No.9 jersey, Luke Burgess, who said there would be no shortage of effort from the Waratahs to play a free-flowing game.
''We're just looking to express ourselves, not hold back or be reserved, express our skills, and I think that is coming through,'' Burgess said. ''I think the Waratahs are at their strongest when we're united, so it's a matter of making sure we're in tune with each other, communicating.
''We're going to have to be diligent in attack and defence.''
Waratahs five-eighth Berrick Barnes agreed. ''Hopefully it's not a boring grudge match. Last weekend against the Force wasn't too pretty,'' he said. ''I'm sure we'll see some tries Saturday night, and I hope that's the case. I think both sides will go in with an attacking mindset and not a spoiling one.''
Genia said Burgess would be a real threat after his superb display against the Rebels in last Friday's 43-0 rout. ''He is starting to play to his strengths, which is his running game,'' Genia said. ''He is a big factor to how they will go.''
Genia said the Reds had been inspired by the Queensland flooding victims, for whom the match will raise much-needed funds. ''Definitely one thing we have spoken about is that we're representing our state, and we want to display the same courage, attitude and resilience as those who have been affected by the floods,'' he said.

Whale announce promotion

Whalers Sports and Entertainment president and COO Howard Baldwin Jr. announced recently a "Harvest-Properties.com Whale Bowl Appreciation Night" promotion for the Connecticut Whale's next home game at the XL Center, which is next Wednesday, March 2 against the Springfield Falcons.

Whale Bowl ticket purchasers who present their Harvest-Properties.com Whale Bowl ticket stub at the XL Center ticket office can purchase one $19 or $12 ticket for the March 2 Whale game, and receive a second of equal or lesser value free. On top of that, the Whale will add a coupon for 15% off Harvest-Properties.com Whale Bowl merchandise for the night of March 2.

"We would sincerely like to thank all of the fans who bought tickets for Harvest-Properties.com Whale Bowl as part of the 2011 Harvest-Properties.com Hockey Fest held at Rentschler Field," Baldwin, Jr. said. "Whale fans helped to set a new AHL attendance record on February 19, braving the frigid elements in order to do so, and we are deeply grateful for all of their support of this historic event."

The Harvest-Properties.com Whale Bowl drew an all-time AHL high of 21,673 to Rentschler Field this past Saturday, as the Whale lost a 5-4 shootout thriller to the Providence Bruins, following a celebration of some of the great names in Connecticut hockey history, in a Whalers legends vs. Boston Bruins legends game.

Tickets for the March 2 game, and all 2010-11 Whale home games, are available now at the XL Center box office, through Ticketmaster Charge-by-Phone at 1-800-745-3000 and on-line at www.ctwhale.com. Tickets start at $7 each at the XL Center ticket office on game day.

The Whale's next action is a two-game set in Charlotte, NC vs. the Charlotte Checkers, this Thursday, February 24 and Saturday, February 26. Both games face off at 7:00 PM (WTIC HD-2, www.ctwhale.com, www.wtic.com).

For information on Whale ticket packages, group sales and VIP packages, call (860) 728-3366.

The AHL's CT Whale is operated by Whalers Sports and Entertainment, a Hartford-based sports marketing and event firm founded by Howard Baldwin. The team is the top player-development affiliate of the NHL's New York Rangers.

Since 1972, the CT Lottery has generated more than $19.3 billion in sales and has transferred nearly $6.7 billion to the state's General Fund. Prizes have exceeded more than $11.1 billion. Purchasers must be 18 years or older. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-346-6238. For more information about the Connecticut Lottery Corporation, call (860) 713-2000, or visit the CT Lottery web site at ctlottery.org.