Shocking: Half of Afghan army is illiterate

New Delhi: With the Afghan Army expanding its role in the security of the country after NATO forces withdraw, the army lags behind in literacy. About half of the army soldiers are illiterate, according to a US watchdog. According to Afghan Education Ministry, only about one-third of Afghans can read and write. After three decades of war, many soldiers did not get a chance to attend school. In 2009, the US launched a $200 million literacy programme which was aimed to have everyone in the military reach at least basic standards by the end of 2014. But a recent report by the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (Sigar) said US military officials now admit this goal is probably unattainable. It's a huge obstacle to Afghanistan's attempts to build a modern and efficient army. One reason for low literacy rate in the army is: once soldiers tend to read and write, they leave this job and search for a better opportunity. So low literacy levels give high turnover rate in Afghan army. And if the trend is reversed, the attrition rate will be higher.