Three Years Under Taliban Rule: The Struggle for Girls' Education in Afghanistan
At least 14 million girls in Afghanistan have been systematically denied access to secondary education since the Taliban regained control in August 2021, according to a statement by UNESCO on August 15, 2023. The United Nations cultural agency highlighted that in a mere three years, the Taliban's actions have nearly erased two decades of educational progress, leaving the future of an entire generation hanging in the balance.
As the Taliban marked the third anniversary of their takeover of Kabul, recent reports suggest that the situation for women and girls has deteriorated drastically. The regime's policies have forced women out of public life, prohibiting them from jobs, parks, gyms, and higher education, leading to what the UN has described as gender apartheid.
A disheartening statistic unveiled by UNESCO indicates that nearly 25 million girls, which encompasses approximately 80 percent of the school-aged female population in Afghanistan, are now deprived of their right to education. This figure represents an increase of 300,000 girls compared to the previous count in April 2023. The agency attributed the denial of secondary education to restrictions imposed by the Taliban, stating that at least 14 million girls have been intentionally barred from attending schools since the regime's return to power.
Furthermore, enrolment in primary education has also plummeted, with 11 million fewer children—both girls and boys—attending school. The drop is primarily a result of the Taliban's ban on female teachers educating boys, paired with a lack of motivation for parents to send their children to school amidst increasing restrictions. UNESCO expressed deep concern over the long-term consequences of this significant dropout rate, which may lead to a rise in child labor and early marriages among girls.
The decline in higher education enrolment is equally alarming, with university student numbers plummeting by 53 percent since 2021, according to UNESCO. The agency's Director-General, Audrey Azoulay, urged the international community to remain active in advocating for the unconditional reopening of schools and universities to Afghan girls and women, emphasizing that lack of access to education is one of the main criticisms directed at the Taliban by Afghan citizens.
A male resident from Balkh Province, who chose to speak anonymously due to safety concerns, stated, "There are those who are not literate enough, and more importantly, a part of society — women — are deprived of education, and this is a big problem for the people of Afghanistan." Similarly, a female resident of Kabul expressed her concerns, noting that women's education, work, and their involvement at national and international levels have been completely sidelined.
As the Taliban commemorates their grip on power in mid-August 2021, the landscape in Afghanistan remains dire. The withdrawal of U.S.-led international troops and the subsequent return of the Taliban to power, following an agreement made in February 2020, has resulted in a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented proportions. The Taliban government remains unrecognized by any foreign state to date.
In addition to the educational crisis, the ongoing humanitarian disaster has left millions of Afghans struggling, as outlined by international aid organizations. A coalition of 10 groups — including Save the Children and World Vision — recently reported that many Afghans find themselves trapped in cycles of poverty and despair, heavily reliant on humanitarian aid.
Amidst this turmoil, women and girls are among those most adversely affected by the crisis. Human Rights Watch has characterized the situation as the world's most severe women's rights crisis. Rights groups have monitored targeted killings, disappearances, and extrajudicial arrests of individuals associated with the previous Afghan government, particularly former service personnel, who now live in fear for their lives.
As this heartbreaking situation continues to unfold, the international community faces a critical challenge: to ensure that the voices of Afghan women and girls are heard and that their fundamental right to education is restored, allowing for a brighter future in Afghanistan.
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