Report on Progress Toward Security and Stability in - United States ...

2.2: ANSF LITERACY TRAINING
Literacy is a critical force enabler and force multiplier for the ANSF. Literacy enables ANSF
service members to learn required skills at vocational schools, enhances instruction on human
rights and the rule of law, and promotes the long-term sustainability of the force as well as postservice
economic opportunity.
As focus has shifted from force expansion to force development, literacy training efforts have
likewise begun shifting to increase the number of ANSF personnel at the international standard
for functional literacy (Level 3). Level 3 literacy is required for ANSF personnel to attend
professional military and branch schools, as it allows students to learn technical information and
skills. Increasing the number of ANSF personnel at Level 3 literacy will have a significant
positive impact on improving the logistics and other technical capabilities of the ANSF.
The size and scope of literacy training efforts for the ANA and ANP remain expansive. As of
March 31, 2012, 2958 full-time Afghan literacy teachers were teaching 112,045 soldiers and
patrolmen, up from 89,297 as of September 2011. Additionally, there are currently 11,235 ANA
personnel at Level 3 literacy and 16,559 ANP personnel at Level 3.
Figure 5: ANSF Literacy Progress
Passed
Literacy Test
NOV 2009 –
OCT 2010
NOV 2010 –
SEP 2011
OCT 2011 –
MAR 2012
Total
Level 1 16,591 58,962 52,194 127,747
Level 2 8,783 20,016 13,845 42,644
Level 3 4,530 12,045 11,219 27,794
Total 29,904 91,023 77,258 198,185
As of March 31, 2012, 112,045 personnel were in literacy instruction.
Level 3 literacy training is primarily instructed at the fielded units, and advancement from Level
1 to Level 3 requires an additional 248 hours of instruction. Convincing local commanders to
provide troops with time to complete literacy training is a primary challenge, particularly with
the ANA. Since spot inspections of the fielded force have shown that only 50 percent attend
class, emphasis is being placed on having more students attend literacy training centers. The
recent MoD commitment to establish the Darulaman Literacy Centre will aid these efforts, as the
initial capacity of 400 students is increased to 800 students in the coming months, building to an
eventual capacity of 1,500 students.
Despite the expansive training efforts and significant progress, overcoming the problems caused
by illiteracy in the Afghan population will continue to be a challenge. Literacy instruction
efforts are expected to increase for the remainder of 2012.
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