The short answer is a heartbreak. If you are a girl in Afghanistan over the age of twelve, you are basically locked out of the formal classroom. It’s been that way since the Taliban swept back into power in August 2021. For a few weeks back then, the world held its breath, wondering if things would be different this time. They weren't.
Since the takeover, the Ministry of Education has effectively banned girls from attending secondary schools and universities. This means that while a seven-year-old can still go to primary school, her older sister is stuck at home. It’s a staggered, cruel system. Imagine finishing sixth grade, getting your supplies ready for the next year, and then being told the door is shut. Forever. Or at least until "further notice," a phrase that has become a permanent fixture in the lives of Afghan women.
The current state of education for women
When people ask are girls allowed to go to school in Afghanistan, they often expect a simple yes or no. The truth is messier. Primary schools—grades one through six—are technically open. You’ll see young girls in their black tunics and white headscarves walking to class in cities like Kabul or Mazar-i-Sharif. But the atmosphere is heavy. There’s a constant fear that the axe will fall on primary education next.
In March 2022, there was a glimmer of hope. The Taliban leadership actually announced that high schools would reopen for girls. Thousands of teenagers showed up, books in hand, only to be sent home in tears just hours later. The leadership in Kandahar had overruled the Ministry in Kabul. It was a bait-and-switch that crushed the spirits of an entire generation. Now, years later, the ban on university education has solidified the "gender apartheid" that UN experts like Richard Bennett have been warning about.
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Why the ban happened (according to the Taliban)
The official line usually involves "Islamic environment" and "sharia law." Officials often claim they need to create a safe, segregated transportation system or a specific curriculum before girls can return. But honestly? It’s been years. Most international observers and even many Afghans see this as a stalling tactic.
Inside the Taliban, there’s a clear divide. You have the more pragmatic elements in the government who realize that a country can't function without female doctors, nurses, and teachers. Then you have the ultra-conservative core in Kandahar, led by Hibatullah Akhundzada, who view female education as a Western influence that needs to be purged. For now, the hardliners are winning.
What happens to the girls who can’t go?
Life doesn't just stop when the school doors close. It gets smaller. For a teenage girl in Herat or Jalalabad, the lack of school leads to a terrifying ripple effect.
- Early Marriage: Without school to protect their time and provide a future, many families feel pressured to marry off their daughters. It’s a survival mechanism in a collapsing economy.
- Mental Health: Depression is skyrocketing. Imagine being an honors student one day and a "housebound prisoner" the next.
- The Literacy Gap: We are looking at a future where the next generation of mothers will be illiterate. That’s a developmental disaster for any nation.
Some girls have turned to "underground schools." These are secret classrooms held in private homes. They are incredibly dangerous. If a teacher is caught, the consequences are severe. Yet, these women risk everything just to teach basic math or literature. It’s a quiet, desperate form of resistance.
The rise of online learning and its limits
Because physical schools are off-limits, many have looked toward the internet. Organizations like Learn Afghanistan, founded by Pashtana Durrani, have worked tirelessly to provide digital resources.
But let's be real: Afghanistan’s internet is spotty at best and expensive at worst. Most families can’t afford a smartphone for every child, let alone the data plans required for Zoom classes. Plus, the Taliban have been tightening their grip on internet filters. Even if a girl has a laptop, she’s often studying in the dark, both literally and figuratively, due to the country’s massive power outages.
Is there any hope for change?
It feels bleak. It really does. But the international community hasn't completely looked away, even if it feels like it sometimes. Foreign aid is often tied to "benchmarks" regarding women's rights, though the Taliban have shown they are willing to let their people starve rather than compromise on their core ideology.
There is pressure from other Muslim-majority nations too. Organizations like the OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) have sent delegations to Kabul to argue that Islam does not forbid female education. In fact, the first word of the Quran is "Iqra," which means "Read." Scholars from Qatar to Indonesia have pointed out that denying education is actually un-Islamic. This internal religious pressure might be the only thing that eventually moves the needle, as the Taliban care more about their religious legitimacy than Western sanctions.
Practical ways to help or stay informed
If you’re reading this and feeling helpless, you aren't alone. The situation regarding are girls allowed to go to school in Afghanistan is one of the greatest human rights challenges of our decade. But awareness isn't enough; action is.
Support the right organizations
Don't just give to giant, faceless NGOs. Look for those with "boots on the ground" or those providing digital education.
- Learn Afghanistan: They focus on digital literacy and clandestine schools.
- Saharki: An organization dedicated to supporting Afghan women’s education through various grassroots initiatives.
- The Malala Fund: They have a specific fund for Afghan educators.
Amplify Afghan voices
The Taliban want the world to forget. They want Afghan women to become invisible. By sharing stories from female Afghan journalists and activists on social media, you keep the pressure on. Use your platform to ensure their struggle doesn't fade into the background of the 24-hour news cycle.
Pressure your own government
If you live in a democracy, your government’s stance on recognizing the Taliban matters. Many governments refuse to officially recognize the regime until girls are back in school. Write to your representatives. Tell them that the rights of Afghan women should be a non-negotiable point in any diplomatic engagement.
Education is a human right
We often take for granted the ability to wake up, grab a backpack, and head to a lecture. In Kabul, that simple act is currently an act of revolution. The resilience of these girls is staggering. They are still reading. They are still writing in secret journals. They are waiting for the day the gates reopen.
Staying informed is the first step toward change. Keep checking reliable news sources like Al Jazeera, the BBC, or TOLOnews (which still operates under heavy censorship in Afghanistan) for the latest updates on educational decrees. The situation changes with every new "edict" issued from Kandahar, and staying updated ensures that when the window for help opens, we are ready to move.
The goal isn't just to get girls back into a building. It's to restore their right to dream, to work, and to lead their own lives. Until that happens, the question of whether they are "allowed" to go to school remains a haunting reminder of what has been lost.
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Next Steps for Advocacy
- Set up a Google Alert for "Afghanistan female education" to get real-time updates on policy changes.
- Donate to VPN services that provide free or subsidized access to Afghan students, allowing them to bypass local internet restrictions.
- Check the status of the Afghan Adjustment Act if you are in the US, which helps refugees who are often the strongest advocates for those left behind.
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