THE EDUCATION PROGRAMME Primary education The education system in Afghanistan is badly deteriorated after more than 23 years of war. SCA, being one of the largest providers of primary education in rural Afghanistan with support to almost 500 schools, reaches only a fraction of all Afghan children of school age. When the new school year started in March 2002, SCA got funds to receive 20 000 more children than in previous years. However, in the eastern region, 11 000 new school children (of which 51% girls), and in the south 28 000 (22% girls) enrolled. With an estimate for the north, the number of new students increased by some 50-70 000. SCA is striving for quality improvement: quality in teaching with regard to school material, teaching methods, monitoring, etc. The aim is ultimately an improved outcome of learning. However, the present situation with large influx of new pupils and lack of teachers, resulting in too big classes, tends to affect the quality. Secondary education As the country is in great need of educated people, SCA has started a pilot project to support 18 secondary schools. Furthermore, schools supported by the Swedish governmental aid agency Sida have been supplied, through SCA, with textbooks and teachers' instructions. Teacher Training During the last 20 years, hardly anyone has graduated from teacher training institutions in Afghanistan. Consequently, most teachers are non-professionals. SCA is providing teachers with two months of training in training centres and 2-3 weeks of on-site training. SCA has also carried out a two-year distance course for the school consultants. For the training of female teachers, a training centre was opened in Peshawar, Pakistan, since women did not have access to schools during the Taliban era. With the new situation, the centre may be moved into Afghanistan.

THE HEALTH PROGRAMME Primary health care Afghanistan has one of the highest infant and maternal mortality rates in the world, reflecting a general lack of proper infrastructure for health services, as well as lack of sanitation, hygiene, health education, and impaired food supply. SCA is supporting a network of 167 clinics.   A programme for mother-and-child care is developed in 54 clinics. Through these, traditional birth attendants are trained and supported. A total of 101 fixed centres for Expanded Programme for Immunisation (EPI) activities are also located in the SCA clinics. Disability A large proportion of the disabled in Afghanistan suffers from sequel of war-related injuries, EPI preventable diseases, malnutrition and inadequate antenatal care. The Comprehensive Disabled Afghan Programme, CDAP, aims at promoting and protecting the rights of children, women and men with disabilities. SCA runs three CDAP centres through which disabled people are identified and provided with physiotherapy, orthopaedics services, and rehabilitation, incl. e.g. education and employment support. Clean water Waterborne infections are the most common diseases in Afghanistan. Lack of safe drinking water is a widespread problem in the country. Within the frames of SCA's health programme, shallow wells are dug, often close to SCA supported schools and clinics. A villager is trained to maintain the well, and training on water handling and health issues is given to the villagers by SCA's health workers. Training Almost all Afghan training institutions have collapsed and the health workers are left without support. For this purpose SCA has established three training centres, one per regional office, providing refresher training for MD doctors, other health workers and paramedics. There is also basic and refresher training for Community Health Workers, and Mid Level Rehabilitation Workers. Annually some 1200 health workers receive training. For female health workers, a training centre is established in Peshawar.