Thesis Book - Seeds of Hope

3.1 Women’s Condition in
the 1900s
In his book, Education in
Afghanistan: Developments,
Influences, and Legacies since
1901, Yahia Baiza provides
a historical overview of
Afghanistan’s education from
the early 1900s and how modern
education has developed for
over a century. The book goes
deep into the factors which
hindered the modern education
system. Within this period,
one of the main factors which
contributed to the development
of Education during the reign
of King Amanullah Khan in 1919
is the time of Independence
from Britain which gave
Afghanistan the possibility to
renovate academy foundations.
During this time, there was widespread support for education for both genders leading
to a legislative law in the country stating all boys and girls have the right to free
education (Yahia). According to article 35 of the 1964 constitution, Afghan male and
female citizens have the right to education, which the government must provide for free.
The Afghan Government also created a law in the 1960s and 1970s to provide primary,
secondary, and higher education for all Afghan citizens. According to the constitution
of the university after 1919, King Amanullah also introduced the concept of co-education
in schools in Kabul and Herat which made it clear to everyone that women and men are
treated and educated equally. Because of the change by the ruler, around 42% of women
in Kabul had formal education and the percentage kept on rising during the 1900s.
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