NEW DELHI: Over 1 million girls are unable to pursue their education in Afghanistan as the new school year began on Wednesday due to the Taliban’s prohibition on girls attending classes beyond the sixth grade.
Afghanistan is the only country with such restrictions on female schooling. Even before the Taliban takeover, an estimated 5 million girls were already out of school due to various reasons, including insufficient facilities.
The Taliban’s education ministry initiated the academic year with a ceremony that excluded female journalists, citing a lack of suitable accommodations for them.
Habibullah Agha, the Taliban’s education minister said, “Due to the lack of a suitable place for the sisters, we apologize to female reporters.” The Taliban’s educational agenda now leans towards Islamic teachings, prioritizing them over basic literacy and numeracy, with an emphasis on madrassas. Agha also urged students to adhere to Islamic and Afghan principles in their clothing.
Abdul Salam Hanafi, the Taliban’s deputy prime minister, expressed efforts to expand education to “all remote areas in the country”. The Taliban’s stance on girls’ education, rooted in their interpretation of Islamic law, remains unchanged despite previous promises of creating conditions for their return to school. This stance has hindered their efforts to gain international recognition as Afghanistan’s legitimate rulers.
While Afghan boys continue to have access to education, Human Rights Watch has criticized the Taliban for their educational policies, deeming them “abusive” and harmful to both boys and girls. According to a report by the organization, the departure of qualified teachers, including women, has negatively impacted boys’ education.
After initially pledging a more moderate governance, the Taliban has not implemented stringent measures against women in higher education but also their presence in public spaces such as parks, and the majority of job opportunities, following their takeover subsequent to the withdrawal of US and Nato forces from the country in 2021.
(With AP inputs)
Afghanistan is the only country with such restrictions on female schooling. Even before the Taliban takeover, an estimated 5 million girls were already out of school due to various reasons, including insufficient facilities.
The Taliban’s education ministry initiated the academic year with a ceremony that excluded female journalists, citing a lack of suitable accommodations for them.
Habibullah Agha, the Taliban’s education minister said, “Due to the lack of a suitable place for the sisters, we apologize to female reporters.” The Taliban’s educational agenda now leans towards Islamic teachings, prioritizing them over basic literacy and numeracy, with an emphasis on madrassas. Agha also urged students to adhere to Islamic and Afghan principles in their clothing.
Abdul Salam Hanafi, the Taliban’s deputy prime minister, expressed efforts to expand education to “all remote areas in the country”. The Taliban’s stance on girls’ education, rooted in their interpretation of Islamic law, remains unchanged despite previous promises of creating conditions for their return to school. This stance has hindered their efforts to gain international recognition as Afghanistan’s legitimate rulers.
While Afghan boys continue to have access to education, Human Rights Watch has criticized the Taliban for their educational policies, deeming them “abusive” and harmful to both boys and girls. According to a report by the organization, the departure of qualified teachers, including women, has negatively impacted boys’ education.
After initially pledging a more moderate governance, the Taliban has not implemented stringent measures against women in higher education but also their presence in public spaces such as parks, and the majority of job opportunities, following their takeover subsequent to the withdrawal of US and Nato forces from the country in 2021.
(With AP inputs)