Afghan Girls Mark 1,156 Days Without Education on International Students' Day

On International Students' Day, November 17, Afghan girls continue to be denied their right to education under Taliban rule, marking 1,156 days since the ban was first imposed.

The ongoing closure of schools and universities for girls has left many feeling that their futures are being wasted, with activists calling for the immediate reopening of educational institutions.

International Students' Day, celebrated annually on November 17, honours the rights and achievements of students around the world. The day serves as a reminder of the importance of education and its role in shaping the future of individuals and societies. For millions of Afghan girls, however, it underscores a grim reality, as they remain excluded from education under the Taliban regime.

For over three years, the Taliban has barred girls from attending school beyond grade six, disregarding repeated international calls to reopen educational institutions. Afghanistan remains the only country in the world where girls' education is entirely restricted.

According to UNESCO, approximately 2.5 million girls in Afghanistan are currently denied access to education. This prohibition not only deprives them of learning opportunities but also takes a severe toll on their mental and emotional well-being. A report by the UN Refugee Agency, published in October, revealed that the restrictions have led to a significant rise in mental health issues, with depression, anxiety, and despair increasing by up to 50% among Afghan women over the past year.

Mohadesa, a young Afghan girl deprived of education, told Afghanistan International: "Imagining that I can no longer study is unacceptable. I feel like I can no longer live. It’s painful to see all your dreams destroyed." Mohadesa, who graduated from high school in 2021 and was admitted to Kabul University to study computer science, had her future plans shattered when the Taliban returned to power.

She emphasised the urgent need for the Taliban to ease restrictions on women and reopen schools and universities for girls, asserting that her generation's potential should not be wasted.

In addition to concerns over the ban itself, there are growing worries about the content of the Taliban's curriculum. Education activist Parasto Hakim has raised alarm over the nature of the education being provided to boys in Taliban-run schools. She warned, "The reopening of schools under the Taliban means providing an education that teaches boys fundamentalism. Taliban schools are not only religious centres but also environments for brainwashing and promoting terrorism."

Hakim also pointed out the broader social consequences of the ban on girls' education, including forced marriages, increased poverty, unemployment, migration, and the absence of skilled professionals in Afghanistan’s future workforce. These issues are compounded by the lack of access to education, which traps many young women in cycles of poverty and vulnerability.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has voiced similar concerns, stressing that the ongoing denial of education for Afghan girls exposes them to heightened risks, including early marriage and long-term social and economic disadvantages.