HC Deb 05 June 2003 vol 406 c547W
Dr. Tonge

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of(a) boys and (b) girls are receiving education in Afghanistan. [116400]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

There are very limited statistics available on the child population of Afghanistan. From available figures, we estimate that there are 5 million children in Afghanistan, of whom approximately 42 per cent. of boys and 18 per cent. of girls between the ages of 6 and 18 are currently receiving education.