RASC News Agency: Reports from the western provinces of Afghanistan indicate that more than half of the educational institutions in this region are closed. A knowledgeable source in western Afghanistan, speaking to the RASC news agency on Thursday, Apr 4, stated that the Taliban have blocked over half of the educational centers due to the presence of girls and women, denying even male students the right to education.
The source adds that this trend is prevalent in all western provinces of Afghanistan, with Herat and Nimroz provinces witnessing more closures. The source states that most of the girls and women who attended educational institutions for learning purposes are now confined to their homes due to the closure of these centers and the strict restrictions imposed by the Taliban group.
According to the source, “The ruling group will achieve no results or benefits by shutting down educational institutions in western Afghanistan, except for having the grievances of thousands of girls and women deprived of education accompany them.” The source added that after closing schools and universities, the time has come to block language teaching institutions.
Furthermore, another source told the RASC news agency that educational centers in the western provinces of Afghanistan depend on communication with the Taliban group; otherwise, heavy penalties must be paid to Taliban officials in addition to the closure of educational institutions. According to the source, it can be blatantly stated that currently, 90% of educational centers in western Afghanistan, especially in Herat province, have gone bankrupt and are facing complete collapse.
The source further adds that with the developments in Afghanistan and the rise of the Taliban group, a significant portion of the country’s population has fled, undertaking a tragic migration day and night. The source stated, “95% of girls and women who were in the process of acquiring knowledge and education in schools, universities, and educational centers during the Republic government are now drowning in despair and have no solution regarding their situation to improve.”
Meanwhile, Samira, one of the female students who was in the seventh grade and witnessed the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, says that since then, she has not been able to read a single page of her school books. She added, “All the motivation that was provided for girls and women under the Ashraf Ghani government is now gone, and there is no hope for continuing education to return to school one day and gather with her classmates to talk about the memories of the few days they were in the same class.” According to her, every day the age of girls increases, and the time when it was planned to register one grade higher in the educational level is completely gone.
Therefore, Omid Karimi, a civil activist in Herat province, told the RASC news agency that significant changes were expected this year with the start of girls’ schools, but unfortunately, like last year, no progress was made to reassure many in this segment of society and their families. According to him, it is estimated that even girls may not be allowed to go to school up to the sixth grade.
Taliban authorities in western Afghanistan have not commented on this matter. It has been over two years since the Taliban took over the country, and this group has prohibited girls above the sixth grade from attending schools and universities, always postponing the abolition of this restriction.
