3. Academic Results Again, for the purpose of this program report, academic data will be described according to grade-level graduations within the ANSF. Although not required by the contract, UAGS maintained academic records on soldiers and police as they progressed through the program. Below (Figure 5) is a summary of ANSF grade-level graduations from the start of the program in August 2010 to December 2014, when the program ended as part of the end of the ISAF mission. Within the UAGS area of operations, the central and eastern provinces, there were 294,684 grade-level graduations by members of the Afghan National Security Forces, with 54,909 being third grade graduations. According to Ministry of Education standards, an Afghan is deemed literate after completing the academic requirements and testing for the third grade.
Figure 3. UAGS Graduation Data
As described above, nearly 300,000 grade level graduations occurred during the past over four-year period. Due to the design of the contract, limited training time, and the low levels of initial illiteracy with the ANSF, the class completed most often was first grade. However, given the complexities that go alongside education with a wartime mission, many soldiers and police (54,909) were able to become completely literate due to this program. Achieving first grade literacy was significant. This translated from having little to no literacy skills when they joined the ANSF to being able to read and write their names, sentences, and perform basic math calculations. Achieving second and third grade literacy clearly put them in a position for advancement within the ranks. The ability to become literate during their term of service to their country within the ANSF (whether short term or for a career) will have lifelong meaning. UAGS found that the members of the ANSF were eager to learn and given the opportunity become literate, they did so. Within the four-year period of this particular literacy program, UAGS had over a 90% graduation rate across all grade levels.
