Why does Laila’s father believe in the importance of education for women?

Laila has a father who emphasizes the importance of her education. Hakim diligently works with Laila on her homework and provides her with extra work in order to expand her education. He emphasizes that Laila's education is as important as that of any boy. After the streets of Kabul become too dangerous, he insists on tutoring Laila himself. He comments about the importance of women attending universities. He thinks that the only way for his country to go forward is to educate their girls: otherwise they will remain in the past while the Western world progresses.