RASC News Agency: Reports from Herat indicate that the Taliban have ordered the closure of all educational courses for girls in the province. According to local sources, the Taliban have issued stern warnings to course administrators, instructing them to prohibit the enrollment of girls above sixth grade. This directive comes from the Taliban’s Directorate of Education in Herat, effectively extending their ban on girls’ education to private institutions.
In an official letter dated Monday, December 23, the Directorate announced that, per the decree of the Taliban leader, education for girls beyond sixth grade in public and private schools, as well as in educational centers, is suspended until further notice. The directive explicitly mandates its application to all educational courses in the province. A source revealed that the Taliban have communicated their orders both in writing and verbally to educational centers, prohibiting them from admitting female students above sixth grade.
Despite the Taliban’s earlier restrictions on schooling for girls, many had sought alternative means of education through private courses, studying subjects such as English and other academic disciplines. However, this latest move now eliminates those opportunities. It remains unclear whether these new restrictions are confined to Herat or extend to other provinces across Afghanistan.
Since reclaiming power, the Taliban have progressively curtailed women’s access to education. Initially, they shut down schools for girls beyond sixth grade, followed by a ban on female students attending universities. Most recently, they prohibited women from enrolling in medical institutions, sparking outrage from the international community, educational organizations, and Afghanistani citizens, particularly women and girls. Despite global condemnation and widespread protests, the Taliban remain resolute, showing no intention of lifting their oppressive restrictions on girls’ education.
