Education in Afghanistan and Pakistan

Smugness seldom satisfies, and Thomas Friedman's pompous odes to his own wit and wisdom typically irritate me even more than the hagiographic tone of Three Cups of Tea, the book I am now reading. Yet this column by Friedman does a good job explaining why Greg Mortenson's work building schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan justifies the hype and accolades it has received. Though I disagree with Friedman's relative comfort with the conduct of America's war in Afghanistan, efforts to be bring secular education to both genders should be celebrated. (Readers of Mortenson's best-selling book should bear in mind that the Central Asia Institute undoubtedly owes its success to a wide network of people, Mortenson's charisma and the book's awestruck depiction of him notwithstanding.)

For this reason, I am very pleased that Cultures in Harmony will work with The Citizens Foundation in Pakistan. TCF has built 600 schools that have enrolled 80,000 students. They have created 6,026 jobs, of which 4,150 are their all-female faculty. They have achieved 50% female enrollment, 98% high school graduation, and are the second largest provider of education in Pakistan. Last Tuesday's opportunity to meet Ahson Rabbani, their Vice President, was an honor. He has helped guide TCF to an astonishing level of sustained achievement and growth.

Also, I look forward to teaching at the Afghan National Institute of Music, the website of which is now live. Take a moment to browse it. Look at the picture on the home page. See all those smiling kids, holding instruments, eager to learn? Those are my new students, children who have thirsted for music their whole lives.