Future Of 3 Million Afghan Girls Bleak Due To Education Ban: Report

Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan, over three million girls who were once enrolled in schools have been denied the right to education. A report revealed that denying education to women is resulting in an increase in early marriages and abuse against women in the country.

Female students in Afghanistan have been raising concerns over the education ban and are calling on the Taliban government to reopen schools for them as schools return on March 21.

A report by Save The Children, a humanitarian organisation revealed that the young Afghan girls denied education was facing a bleak future as it resulted in a rise in abuse against women and early marriages.

Education Ban For Afghan Girls

Save the Children’s acting country director for Afghanistan, Olivier Franchi said that Afghanistan is the only country in the world denying educational rights to girls above grade 6. Franchi added that girls in Afghanistan know that education is the best path toward success and are striving for a brighter future.

Kabul’s people have also been demanding that the Islamic Emirate reopen the schools for girl students.

A resident of Kabul said that they hope that, based on the Islamic religion, the Islamic Emirate will allow both girls and boys to study, according to TOLO news.

Numerous students have been demanding the Taliban government in Afghanistan reopen schools for girls. "All girls in the country want schools to be opened for girls as well because only one week remains until the next academic year begins," said Nageena, a student.

Several Islamic countries and organisations, such as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), have conveyed their condemnation of the Taliban's banning of educational and employment opportunities for girls and women, which is a violation of Islamic law.

After the Taliban took over Afganistan in August 2021, they imposed strict rules that banned girls from acquiring higher education. In December 2022, female students were banned from colleges and universities because they were "not following the instructed dress code."

The Taliban has been claiming that girls and women haven’t been banned permanently and their education has only been "postponed." Since the new academic year is just weeks away, people, including girls and women, have been engaging in various protests, calling on the Taliban to allow women to pursue education.

Suggested Reading: Taliban Claims Afghanistan Girls’ Education “Postponed”, Not Banned