Located at the southern most tip of the

continent of Africa, South Africa is known for

its coastlines, safari animals in the bush and
the warm culture of people who call it home.
However, according to the Central Intelligence
Agency, South Africa has the third highest
percentage HIV/AIDS positive people in the
world. The two countries with a higher
percentage are located within South Africa,
Lesotho and Swaziland (Agency, 2013) . This
staggering statistic greatly influences several
areas of the educational system. The people of
South Africa hold education to be of great
value and try to support their children in their
learning.
Completely surrounded by five other
countries, Afghanistan is a place of old
tradition, devout religious beliefs and
yet, a newfound independence as well.
It is one of the most underdeveloped
countries in the world (Agency, 2013).
Until recently, the culture and needs
of the people made education
something of privilege. However,
today the people of Afghanistan are
working hard to make the changes
needed so education can be available
for all children (Open, 2005-2013).
South Africa was first inhabited by the British. It won
independence in 1910 and was then declared a Republic
government in May of 1961 (Agency, 2013). Before 1994
South Africa was a country very divided by racial lines.
There were four races, black, white, coloured and Indian.
Students were divided into schools by color, if they
actually were able to attend (Naidu, 2011). Each group had
there own education system and all groups didnt now
agree with the others way of doing things. The non-white
people of South Africa believed in staying close to
community and didnt want to be influenced by European
ways of education during the 1950s and 1960s. There was
segregation in all areas of education from primary school to
universities. This segregation, much violence and a state of
emergency at times carried on South Africa for over 3
decades. Finally in the early 1990s negotiations took place
among many of the fighting political parties and Apartheid
(the system of racial segregation) was overthrown in 1994.
The government has had three shifts in political party
control since then (SouthAfrica.info, 2013). Due to the
political turmoil in South Africa for much of its recent
history, there education system is still greatly divided.
The political background of Afghanistan is similar in many ways to South
Africa. Both countries were originally control by British forces and won
independence early in the twentieth century. Afghanistan became its own
nation in August 1919. Through most of the twentieth century the country
struggled amongst its own people for power and many political parties rose
and fell. The middle of the century saw control by King Zahir Shah and the
education system grew and thrived. However, when the Soviets invaded and
wars broke out for much of the later part of the twentieth century, the education
system in Afghanistan was nearly ruined. Many disagreed with what they felt
were none Islamic teachings and practices. Teachers fled the country and
many people, especially in the outer areas of the country had nothing to do
with education. Then with the uprising of the Taliban in the 1990s most
schools became mosque schools being educated by extremist views (Open,
2005-2013). Girls were almost nonexistent in school and women teachers
were not allowed. Since the overthrow of the Taliban, the country and its many
supporters of education have begun the huge task of overhauling the
educational system and providing learning for all (Children, 2013).
Similarities:
History of great political
turmoil.
Divided education systems
until the end of the twentieth
century.
Inequality among people
groups.
New political control, less
than two decades old.
Both considered Republics
Differences:
Gender inequality verses
ethnicity segregation.
Internal turmoil verses
conflict with other nations.
Country began to change
because of overthrow of
Islamic extremist group
verses overthrow of racist
ideas and decimation.

Subject South Africa Afghanistan US
Population: 48,601,098 (26
th
) 31,108 ,077 (40
th
) 3rd
Pop. Growth: 221st 41st 123rd
Economy: 26th 109th 2nd
Education Costs
of GDP:
6% (38
th)
*1.9% (169th) 5.4%
(60
th
)
Literacy: 86.4% 28.1% 99%
Birth Rate: 93rd 12th 146th
Death Rate: 1
st
7th 87th
Avg. School
Years:
13 years 8 years 17
years
* Afghanistan educational spending record is from 1980, not current.
South Africa:
2 national education departments: department of
Basic Education and department of Higher
Education & Training
Country broken up into 9 providences
Spending on education varies by providence
Quality of education greatly varies throughout
the Countries boundaries
Primary Grades = R, 1-7th
Secondary Grades = 8-12
th

University = Higher education (1/5)
Gender Equality 87% B- 85.7 G


Primary education is required, secondary is suggested, higher education is growing in
South Africa, but is very economically based amongst the providences (Ebner,
2008), (Africa, 2013).
Class sizes vary greatly between areas. Often based on wealthy or poverty stricken
providences.
Education is funded but Ministry of Education (government) or NOGs (Non-
governmental organizations).
Security issues around the country (mostly southern provinces) still hinder many
students from attending school)
Estimated in 2005, 40% of students 6-18 still did not attend school (Open, 2005-
2013).
Preschool just beginning to take shape (Interactive, 2013).
Elementary: 1-6
th
(7-12 yrs)
Secondary: 7-9
th

High School: 10-12
th
Gender: 43.1%B 12% G

Many students in Afghanistan drop out by 6
th
grade. Few make it through all grades
and even less go on to college (Open, 2005-2013).
Estimations by several sources show 30,000 students graduating from high school.
Only 1/3 of those go on to universities currently, many end up unemployed (2013).
According to the
Department of Education,
private school attendance
doubled from 1.9% to 3.9%
since 2001 (Naidu, 2011).

Private schools require
much less funding due to
the wide variance in the
amount of students they
teach (International, 2013).

South Africa spent less
than a tenth of its budget
on education in 2012.
There doesnt seem to
be an accurate count of
private schools in
Afghanistan for several
reasons (Qazi, 2010):
There werent any
until 8 years ago
They cost around
15$ per month, most
cant pay that.
There is still a great
deal of violence
surrounding
education, especially
for girls.
Most are secular
(Najibullah, 2009).
South Africa spends about a tenth of its budget on education
Afghanistan does not have a documented amount, but they are being
given a great deal of aid from outside the country (Mortenson, 2007).

South Africa does not have a religious structure to their public
education system. However, many private schools are religious.
Afghanistans public education us heavily influenced by the Islamic
religion. Private schools are mostly secular, meaning do not include
Islamic teachings but more focus simply on academics.

There is complete separation of church and state within South
Africa. There is really no separation in Afghanistan unless you attend a
private school (Najibullah, 2009).

Political
Economic
Religion
Uniforms
Food at School
Relationships with staff
Curriculum
Funding
School Structures
Homework
Hidden Curriculum

Any questions?

Slide 2: Agency, C. I. (2013). South Africa. from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-
factbook/geos/sf.html

Slide 3: Agency, C. I. (2013). Afghanistan. Retrieved June 16th, 2013, from
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/af.html

Open, S. i. (2005-2013). Afghanistan Education History. Retrieved June 17th, 2013, from
http://www.schoolisopen.org/sio/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53&Itemid=62

Slide 4: Agency, C. I. (2013). South Africa. from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-
factbook/geos/sf.html

Naidu, S. (2011). An autobiography of teaching and teacher evaluation in an apartheid and post-apartheid
South Africa Part One. http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED530235.pdf

SouthAfrica.info. (2013). South African History. from
http://www.southafrica.info/about/history/history.htm#.UeNj123n9LM

Slide 5: Open, S. i. (2005-2013). Afghanistan Education History. Retrieved June 17th, 2013, from
http://www.schoolisopen.org/sio/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53&Itemid=62

Children, H. t. A. (2013). History of Educational System in Afghanistan. from
http://www.helptheafghanchildren.org/pages.aspx?content=45

Slide 6: See references from slide 4 and slide 5

Slide 7 : CIA. (2013). World Factbook. from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/

Slide 8: Agency, C. I. (2013). South Africa. from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-
factbook/geos/sf.html

Africa, I. E. A. o. S. (2013). South Africa Higher Education Facts. from
http://www.ieasa.studysa.org/resources/Study_SA/Facts_Figures_section.pdf

Slide 9: Open, S. i. (2005-2013). Afghanistan Education History. Retrieved June 17th, 2013, from
http://www.schoolisopen.org/sio/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53&Itemid=62

Interactive, J. (2013). Afghan Institute of Learning. from http://www.afghaninstituteoflearning.org/preschool.html

Slide 10: Naidu, S. (2011). An autobiography of teaching and teacher evaluation in an apartheid and post-apartheid South
Africa Part One. http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED530235.pdf

International, E. (2013). South Africa: Stop students exodus from public schools! Retrieved June 18th, 2013, from
http://www.ei-ie.org/en/news/news_details/2109

Slide 11: Qazi, A. (2010). Education, Afghanistan Online. Retrieved from http://www.afghan-web.com/education/

Najibullah, F. (2009). Afghan Private Schools Seen As Sign Of Hope, Optimism, Afghanistan Online. Retrieved from
http://www.afghan-web.com/education/afghanprivateschools.html

Slide 12: Mortenson, G. (2007). Three Cups of Tea. New York, NY: Penguin.

Najibullah, F. (2009). Afghan Private Schools Seen As Sign Of Hope, Optimism, Afghanistan Online. Retrieved from
http://www.afghan-web.com/education/afghanprivateschools.html


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Picture 7: MacKenzie, B. (2013). Trust in Education. Retrieved June 19th, 2013, from
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https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/af.html
Picture 11: Ebner, K. (Producer). (2008). South Africa Photography.
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http://www.trustineducation.org/our-work/schools/
Picture 13: Ebner, K. (Producer). (2008). South Africa Photography.
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http://www.trustineducation.org/our-work/schools/