As the new academic year begins in Afghanistan, several girls have called on the Taliban to reopen the doors of education. They say that with the start of the new school year, the longing to return to classrooms has once again been rekindled in their hearts. These girls emphasize that they should not be deprived of their fundamental right to education in the new academic year. In their view, the Taliban’s ban on education has had a deeply negative impact on their lives, leaving them saddened and dimming their hopes for the future. They say that before the ban, their days were filled with studying, school, and hope, but now those hopes have given way to anxiety and uncertainty.
Speaking to the Hasht-e Subh Daily, these girls say that despite the restrictions, they try to stay connected to learning through home study or informal education, but such opportunities are not accessible to everyone. They add that since being barred from school, their daily lives have changed dramatically, with most of their days spent at home without any set routine. According to them, the continuation of this situation has taken a toll not only on their education but also on their morale and hope for the future.
Sitara (pseudonym), one of the girls who has been kept out of school, says that for more than four years she has been counting the days for schools to reopen to girls, and every year, as the new academic year begins, she is met with closed doors. She adds that with schools remaining shut, the feeling of despair grows stronger at the start of each new school year, because she cannot go to school like others.
She says, “I was in eleventh grade when I was barred from school. Every time the school year begins, an unpleasant feeling comes over me when I see that everyone else can go to school, but I cannot. Even so, I still hold on to the hope that schools will reopen and we will be able to continue our studies.”
Kobra Mohammadi, another girl who has been kept out of school, says that although she pursues informal education, it cannot fill the void left by school. She says: “After schools closed and I experienced that despair, I turned to learning English to show the world that girls in Afghanistan do not stop in the face of restrictions. But this is not enough for us, and schools must reopen.”
Sadaf Taheri, another girl who was barred from school while in ninth grade, says that being denied an education over the past four years has dealt the hardest blow to her life. She says that despite all the hardships, she has tried not to give up and has continued to pursue her dreams. She asks other girls to believe in themselves and not to surrender in the face of reaching their aspirations.
Ms. Taheri says, “I was the top student in my class up to ninth grade. I lost my father, and forty days after his death, the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. After my father’s passing, I always said I wanted to study, but the closure of schools left me deeply discouraged. Even so, I did not give up and started learning English, but then English classes were closed too. I then turned to online learning. Although many people said there was no point in studying in Afghanistan, I kept going. At times, I would lose hope and tell myself I wish I had not bothered, but I wanted a different destiny for myself. I did not want to get married early like so many other girls in Afghanistan. I want to reach my dreams.”
Farima (pseudonym), another girl who has been kept out of school, says that after overcoming many difficulties, she managed to enroll in a creative writing course, but stresses that the path of online education is neither easy nor accessible to everyone. She adds that the closure of universities to girls is a wound that has never left her throughout these years.
This girl, who now writes short stories, says: “It has been more than three years since universities were closed. My male classmates have graduated, but we girls were left behind, and this pain never leaves me. Even so, I have taken refuge in writing stories and reading poetry. Two years ago, I enrolled in an online university, and I am now on the verge of graduating. I know that if I had been able to attend a physical university, I could have made use of far more opportunities. But even this online education, along with writing stories and teaching girls, is a hundred times better than being idle. Although our future is still uncertain and we live in a kind of limbo, I remain hopeful and keep trying. I am pursuing language learning and plan to continue my studies at the master’s level.”
Saleha, whose two sisters have been denied access to school, says she and her family are working to help the two girls feel the weight of educational restrictions as little as possible. She adds that her sisters have grown deeply attached to even the small opportunities available to them.
She says: “Even though my sisters are out of school, we are trying to find alternative paths to get around the restrictions and make sure their spirits are not broken at the start of the new school year. They are very eager and have gathered all the necessary supplies so they can make use of the informal educational opportunities that are available.”
Every year, the new academic year in Afghanistan begins with the start of the Solar New Year, on the first of Hamal, but it remains unclear whether the Taliban will open schools and universities to female students above sixth grade.
After seizing control of Kabul in August, 2021, the Taliban closed school doors to girls above sixth grade and shut universities to female students, declaring that these restrictions would be temporary. However, it remains unclear how long this “temporary” situation will last.
As the new academic year begins in Afghanistan, concerns over the continued ban on education for girls above sixth grade have grown, and several organizations have once again called for unconditional access to education for girls.
Afghanistan Rights Monitor (ARM), in a post on its X account, criticized the continued ban on girls’ education and stated that the Taliban have not only restricted access to education but have also deprived girls of their basic rights.
The organization, pointing to this situation, called for the recognition of “gender apartheid” as a crime against humanity and urged the Taliban to allow girls and women to continue their education.
Previously, the European Union, on the occasion of the new Solar New Year, had called for the reopening of schools.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
دختران محروم از آموزش: هنوز چشمانتظار بازگشایی مکتبها هستیم
