RASC News Agency: The Global Partnership for Education has condemned the Taliban for closing schools beyond grade six and universities to Afghanistani girls, effectively robbing them of their futures. The organization highlighted that Afghanistani girls have lost three critical years of educational opportunities.
On Monday, September 23, the organization posted on “X” (formerly Twitter) that it has been three years since Afghanistani girls were barred from attending schools above grade six and pursuing higher education. In September 2022, the Taliban’s Ministry of Education issued a notice inviting male students and teachers to return to schools, while conspicuously omitting any mention of girls or female educators.
Since that time, schools for girls above grade six have remained closed, and women are prohibited from attending universities. Over the past three years, the Taliban have imposed increasingly severe restrictions on Afghanistani women and girls in both public and private spheres. In a recent interview with local media, a Taliban official made it unequivocally clear that as long as the Taliban remain in power, the doors of schools and universities will not reopen for girls. He stated that this is the Taliban’s definitive policy regarding the education of Afghanistani girls.
Despite calls from religious scholars worldwide, Islamic countries, and international organizations urging the Taliban to reconsider this decision, the group has resolutely refused. Their defiance is largely attributed to the influence of Pashtun tribal customs, which regard the public presence of women as shameful, prioritizing these tribal values over religious considerations.
