Korea is aiming to help improve the quality of education in Afghanistan by offering Afghan teachers a chance to learn the education system here.

Thirty-two educators, including three women, from Afghanistan are currently participating in a teacher-training program at Hanyang University in Seoul, the school said.

The training is part of a larger program run jointly by the Korea International Cooperation Agency and the university’s Research Institute for Global Education and Leadership as the government moves to expand its official development assistance to the war-ravaged country.

The two-week program is designed to provide Afghan teachers with opportunities to examine Korea’s education system and advanced ICT programs for teaching and learning, according to RIGEL director Ahn Mi-lee.

Since the Afghan teachers arrived here on Aug. 10, they have attended a series of workshops and also visited various schools, including Hanyang University Affiliated Primary School, Seoul Robot High School and Sulrin Internet High School. They also had a field trip to Gyeongju this week, according to the director.

This is the second time the center has invited Afghan educators to participate in the teacher-training program. Thirty-five teachers completed the first course in June.

“In the beginning, they appeared a little shy about participating in the training program, but their attitude gradually changed and they became more active. The three women were especially active in discussion, showing their eagerness to learn,” director Ahn told The Korea Herald.

Lailuma Khaliqyar, a high school principal from Parwan province, Afghanistan, said her time in Korea had been “interesting and meaningful.”

She noted that she was particularly amazed to see how women actively contribute to education and the economy in Korea.

“I notice that lots of women work in government and schools, and Korean people have much respect for women. I want to tell these things to Afghanistan women,” she said.

“When I return to Afghanistan, I will tell people about Korean women. I think Afghanistan women also have abilities. Like Korea, it will be great to have a chance to participate and work with men in Afghanistan.”

After completing the two-week program on Friday, they will return to Afghanistan to implement their new insight to help improve the quality of education in their home country.

“We hope to continue this teacher-training program to invite more teachers, especially women, to encourage them to improve women’s education,” Ahn added.

By Oh Kyu-wook (596story@heraldcorp.com)