Prior to 1900, schools in Afghanistan were religious and did not teach secular subjects. Students were taught by mullahs (Muslim clergy) in local mosques. The first school for girls in Afghanistan was opened in 1924 and primary education became free and compulsory by law for all children in 1931 (Kurian 1988, Sassani 1961). In spite of the new law, few schools opened in Afghanistan and most were in urban areas. Few girls enrolled in school and most female school students were urban. Children who…