RASC News Agency: The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced plans to construct 190 schools in Afghanistan within the current calendar year. In a post on its X account, UNICEF stated that these schools will accommodate 200,000 students. UNICEF emphasized that the construction of these schools will commence in earnest. This announcement comes in the wake of the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, during which they have barred girls above the sixth grade from attending school.
Since reclaiming power, the Taliban have also prevented women and girls from attending universities. Nearly three years have passed since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, yet there is still no indication that schools will reopen for girls. Despite this, religious schools remain open to girls, and many school-aged girls have turned to these institutions out of frustration with unemployment and being confined to their homes.
It is noteworthy that the Taliban conducted this year’s (1403 Hijri) university entrance exam (Kankor) without the participation of girls. This exclusion was also observed in last year’s exam. The Taliban’s policies have faced fierce domestic and international criticism, but they have yet to reopen schools for girls. The Taliban maintain that the issue of girls’ education is a domestic matter and that the Islamic Emirate will address it as they see fit.
In a recent report, a UN deputy stated that girls’ education is not solely a domestic issue and that the Taliban are mistaken in their approach.
