According to the U.N. children’s agency, UNICEF, over 1 million girls are impacted by this prohibition, with an additional 5 million already out of school before the Taliban's rise to power due to various factors, including inadequate facilities.
Afghanistan's academic year commenced on Wednesday, but notably absent were girls, as the Taliban imposed restrictions on female education beyond the sixth grade, marking the country as the sole nation with such constraints.
According to the U.N. children’s agency, UNICEF, over 1 million girls are impacted by this prohibition, with an additional 5 million already out of school before the Taliban's rise to power due to various factors, including inadequate facilities.
The Taliban's education ministry inaugurated the academic year with an event, from which female journalists were excluded. Invitations cited the lack of suitable accommodations for women, apologizing for their absence.
During the ceremony, Education Minister Habibullah Agha expressed intentions to enhance the quality of education, emphasizing both religious and modern sciences. The Taliban's educational focus has shifted towards madrassas, emphasizing Islamic teachings over basic literacy and numeracy.
Minister Agha also urged students to adhere to Islamic and Afghan principles in their attire. Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi claimed efforts to extend education to remote areas across the nation.
The Taliban's stance on female education remains staunch, citing their interpretation of Islamic law, Sharia, as a basis for the ban, echoing policies from their 1990s rule.
Despite initial promises of a more moderate regime, the Taliban have continued to restrict women's access to higher education, public spaces, and employment, following the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces in 2021. The prohibition on girls' education poses a significant hurdle for the Taliban's international recognition as Afghanistan's legitimate rulers.
While boys continue to receive education, Human Rights Watch has criticized the Taliban's educational policies, stating they adversely affect both genders. The group highlighted a decline in attendance, attributed to factors such as the departure of qualified teachers, regressive curriculum changes, and increased corporal punishment.