WISE Prize for Education Laureate Dr Sakena Yacoobi has called for more social investment in education “as the only path to peace, prosperity, and moderation in troubled regions.”
Yacoobi made the call in a keynote address delivered at a Harvard Graduate School of Education event, which considered “Education in Vulnerable Regions.”
The “Askwith Forum,” a series of public lectures, formed part of the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Harvard Advanced Learning Initiative, “Deep Dive.”
The programme facilitates the international discussion of education and gender equality issues, and, serving as a platform for cross cultural understanding, reflects the aspirations of the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE), an initiative of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development (QF).
Yacoobi, a US citizen and founder of the Afghan Institute of Learning, was presented with the WISE Prize for Education at the summit in November 2015. For over 20 years, she has worked to bring education, as well as healthcare services to the most vulnerable under extreme conditions of war, displacement, and oppression during Taliban rule in her native country.  
In her speech, Yacoobi spoke about her work in Afghanistan, including establishing a hospital and a high school. She also discussed “The Afghan Institute of Learning,” which is under her current leadership, and plans for the creation of a university for women in Afghanistan.
Dr Irina Bokova, director-general, Unesco, also spoke at the event and discussed the issue within the context of international development efforts. She emphasised the need for societies to hold governments responsible for ensuring that children receive a secondary education.
She pointed out that middle income countries have the greatest gender inequalities regarding access to education, and that these countries can well afford greater investments.
A panel discussion followed the speakers’ address and included members of the Harvard Advanced Learning Initiative faculty. The participants discussed the need to close gender inequalities, and ways to scale innovative solutions in various contexts around the world.