Bridging Educational Gaps for Afghan Children Abroad: A Case Study of Maktab24.Online
Mir Abdullatif Yahya · DergiPark (Istanbul University) · 2024
The conflict and instability in Afghanistan have resulted in the displacement of numer-ous families, significantly affecting the educational journeys of their children. Conse-quently, these children now encounter substantial obstacles in accessing learning op-portunities. Afghan families often struggle to provide their children with comprehensive linguistic and cultural education. To address this pressing issue, digital platforms have emerged as invaluable resources, delivering accessible and high-quality language and cultural preservation education to Afghan children living abroad. This research pre-sents a case study of Maktab24Online, an online educational platform designed specifi-cally for Afghan children in diaspora communities. Through a comprehensive analysis of Maktab24Online's approach and in-depth interviews with families and enrolled stu-dents, the study sheds light on the platform's effectiveness in bridging educational gaps and fostering academic continuity for Afghan children. The study highlights Mak-tab24Online's extensive reach, particularly among Afghan children in the United States and Europe, underscoring its effectiveness in serving the diaspora community. Findings reveal children pressured to assimilate foreign culture, challenging cultural mainte-nance. There is a high demand for foundational education, especially among primary school-aged children, with a strong emphasis on religious and linguistic education. Most respondents regard Maktab24Online as beneficial, despite the pressure of assimi-lation and limited access to Afghan culture abroad and are eager to recommend it. The study concludes that digital platforms drive change by offering innovative solutions to educational disparities faced by Afghan children abroad. Additionally, these platforms have provided job opportunities for women in Afghanistan, despite the regime's ban on women working in the country.