RASC News Agency: On the occasion of International Literacy Day, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reaffirmed that literacy is a fundamental human right, essential for the empowerment of every individual. As the world marks International Literacy Day on September 8, Afghanistan remains deeply entangled in a severe crisis of educational access. In a statement released on Sunday, September 8, UNAMA underscored the importance of universal access to education, while refraining from directly addressing the Taliban’s prohibition on girls’ education.
Without explicit mention of the ongoing ban, UNAMA highlighted the pivotal role literacy plays in fostering empowerment, peace, and mutual understanding. “Promoting education in multiple languages enhances communication, drives social mobilization, and contributes to peace, while also equipping individuals with the ability to advocate for their rights,” the message read. The statement further emphasized, “Let us ensure that every individual has access to literacy.” These comments come against the backdrop of Afghanistan’s three-year-long exclusion of girls from schools. The Taliban has systematically barred girls from attending schools, and many educational institutions, particularly in Panjshir province, have been repurposed into military outposts and checkpoints.
Despite repeated calls for reopening schools, the Taliban insists that girls’ education will remain suspended until a directive is issued by their supreme leader. Religious schools for girls, however, continue to operate, where students follow a curriculum aligned with the Taliban’s strict ideological framework. The Taliban shows little inclination toward restoring general education for girls, keeping their future prospects in limbo.
