UNESCO reports 2.4 million Afghan girls barred from secondary education

About 2.4 million girls in Afghanistan are currently barred from attending secondary schools, according to a report released by UNESCO. The United Nations cultural agency made this announcement on Tuesday, emphasizing the urgent need for the Taliban government to lift its restrictions on female education.

The number of girls denied access to secondary education has increased by 200,000 since last year. UNESCO warns that this figure could rise to nearly four million by 2030 if the current policies remain in place. Afghanistan is unique in its prohibition of girls' and women's access to secondary schools and universities, an alarming situation that has prompted the UN to label it as “gender apartheid.” This educational ban follows a series of restrictions imposed by the Taliban after their return to power in August 2021, which included shutting down secondary schools for girls in March 2022 and banning women from universities later that year.

In addition to denying education to girls, the Taliban's policies have also stripped the education system of qualified female teachers. The UN estimates a projected shortfall of over 11,000 qualified women educators by 2030. The ban on female teachers has resulted in boys being taught by untrained male staff, further degrading the quality of education. The overall education system in Afghanistan faces significant challenges, including overcrowded classrooms, a lack of basic resources, and detrimental impacts from natural disasters that have led to the closure of approximately 1,000 schools in the last five years.

Despite mounting international pressure and calls from various Muslim-majority countries to reverse these policies, the Taliban government has remained steadfast. They argue that the issue of girls’ education is an internal matter, showing little willingness to engage with global opinions. As the education crisis deepens, the future of millions of Afghan girls hangs in the balance, raising concerns about the long-term implications for the country's social and economic development.