Worsening security seen in recent years, and engrained poverty and discrimination, eliminate education gains made between 2002 and 2016, a UNICEF report released on Sunday, said.

The report said that nearly half of all Afghan children aged between 7 and 17 years old – 3.7 million – are missing out on school, according to the Out of School Children: Afghanistan Country Study released on Sunday.

The ongoing conflict and worsening security situation across the country – combined with deeply engrained poverty and discrimination against girls – have pushed the rate of out-of-school children up for the first time since 2002 levels, the report stated.

In this episode of Farakhabar, host Massoud Malik discusses the topic with the following guests:

• Attaullah Wahidyar, senior advisor to education ministry

• Arif Musavi, TOLOnews journalist