Both Afghanistan and Japan got their independence in the same year. Today, Japan is considered as one of the most developed and industrial countries in the world, while Afghanistan is still considered as a world-third country. To compare Afghanistan with Japan, I can say that the economy of Japan is a highly developed/advanced social market economy, often referred to as an East Asian model. It is the third-largest in the world by nominal GDP and the fourthlargest by purchasing power parity (PPP). It is the world’s second-largest developed economy. A question is created why Japan is considered a developed country? Because the Japanese started working hard to change their country to a major industrial power that now produces advanced technology and machinery. In fact, Japan has the world’s largest electronics goods industry and focuses on manufacturing very specialized, high-tech equipment. Japan is a big player in the global economy and is the world’s largest creditor. Afghans should do so and start hard work to change their country into one of the world’s developed countries. If we do not wake up and do not start hard work for the development of our country, Afghanistan will remain as a third-world country in the world. The nation will face will various challenges they have been facing for the past four decades. Now that the ulamas-led Islamic Emirate took power and has ruled the country for the past almost two years, it is needed that the country is driven toward a bright future. They should deeply study the causes of Afghanistan’s failures and take advantage of the time and provide ground for better education and higher education to the country’s young generation so that they have all the opportunities to get education inside the country. Education is a human right, a powerful driver of development, and one of the strongest instruments for reducing poverty and improving health, peace, and stability. It delivers large, consistent returns in terms of income, and is the most important factor to ensure equity and inclusion. Developing countries have made tremendous progress in getting children into the classroom and more children worldwide are now in school. Making smart and effective investments in people’s education is critical for developing the human capital that will end extreme poverty. It is time that the Islamic Emirate focus on providing ground for the education of Afghan children and the young generation. At the core of this strategy is the need to tackle the learning crisis, put an end to learning poverty, and help youth acquire the advanced cognitive, socioemotional, technical and digital skills they need to succeed in today’s world. For the importance and value of education, it is enough that Almighty Allah starts the first revelation to His last messenger Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) with the word ‘read’ and says: “Recite in the name of your Lord who created, created man from a clinging substance, Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous, who taught by the pen, taught man that which he knew not. Zaifullah Hamdard
Opinion: Education is a powerful driver of development
