Teachers visit Japan

Tokyo, Japan (Daily Yomiuri): In mid-January, a group of 13 secondary school teachers traveled to Japan. Their purpose was to research five of the nation's leading women's universities for techniques that could be applied in the rebuilding of Afghanistan's women's education program.

The five institutions--Ochanomizu and Nara Women's universities, Tsuda College, Tokyo Woman's Christian University and Japan Women's University--have set up a consortium to work more closely with Afghanistan in the area of women's education. The teachers' trip was arranged in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

The first session started on Jan. 19 at Ochanomizu University where the teachers were briefed on the development of higher education for women in Japan.

Ms. Homaira Akbari, a middle school mathematics teacher from Kabu, spoke on increasing opportunities for girls in Afghanistan, "Now more and more girls are coming back to school," she said.

The training session ended on Jan. 28.

The five universities started working with Afghan female educators during the 2002 academic year. A new phase in this program has just started this academic year, to be held over the next three years, with a focus on developing more practical skills.