This study investigated the impact of poverty on rural education of girls in Afghanistan. The study employed the Randomized control trial in a field experiment which is structured to include two groups namely the treatment and control groups. Variables used include; the level of individual wealth, village based school as the treatment group, the interaction of being poor in a village-based school. The findings showed that girls from poor homes do not have access to education when compared to girls from rich homes. When schools are established in rural areas, girls from poor homes still cannot be enrolled in schools. Also, from the results, it was observed that girls who are enrolled in schools often score more than boys in class test. To policy makers, this research recommends a shift from pursuing only boy child education to also include the girl child in education policies either by allowing girls to join the boys in same school or create a separate girls’ school for the girls. Achieving this balance has huge implications for the social, political and economic welfare of the citizens.

Keywords: Poverty, Rural Education, Gender, Afghanistan

JEL Classification: J16, I21, I24, O18