Taliban’s education ban leaves Afghan girls in dark, female students deprived of education under Taliban rule

By Zeshan Ali Bhatti
KABUL: The Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan has ushered in a dark era for women, particularly in education. Afghan girls find themselves barred from the very classrooms where dreams are nurtured. Recent reports reveal the harsh reality. Afghan girls over the age of 11 are denied the right to education, making Afghanistan the sole nation with such restrictions.
The United Nations estimates that a staggering 80% of school-age Afghan girls are affected by this ban, which has left over 1 million young minds deprived of learning opportunities, as highlighted by UNICEF.
In the city of Kandahar, girls as young as 10 are abruptly halted from pursuing their education.
The consequences ripple beyond the individual, with the Afghan economy bearing a heavy toll. UNICEF reports losses exceeding $500 million in the past year alone due to the absence of girls from secondary education.
For these girls, the journey to school is filled with fear as they quietly navigate the threat of Taliban violence. Their dreams of becoming doctors, engineers, and leaders are stifled by a regime that sees education as a threat.
The recent decree by the Taliban to ban girls from attending classes beyond the 6th grade is yet another blow to the aspirations of Afghan women.