Education Desires of Afghan Girls Persist in Face of Taliban School Prohibition
In the heart of Afghanistan, a silent battle is being waged, one that challenges the Taliban's restrictions on girls' education. This struggle, fuelled by the determination of countless individuals and organisations, seeks to ensure that every girl in Afghanistan has the right to learn and grow.
Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani Nobel Peace Prize laureate who survived a Taliban gunman's bullet at the age of 15 for her relentless advocacy for education, has become a beacon of hope for many. She continues to address international forums, including the UN, and calls for political pressure against the Taliban to end their ban on girls' education.
Her efforts are supported by the Malala Fund, an organisation she co-founded. The Malala Fund provides vital assistance to families in Afghanistan who continue to educate their girls despite the ban, ensuring that they can access 12 years of free, safe, and quality education.
The Taliban, however, maintains that education for girls and women does not align with Islamic principles and Afghan culture. Since 2021, they have forbidden girls from attending school after the age of 12, excluding an estimated 1 million girls from secondary schools when they returned to power on September 17, 2021.
This decision has been met with widespread opposition. A nationwide survey conducted by UN Women in August 2021 revealed that over 92% of respondents considered it important for girls to continue their education. In rural and urban areas alike, support for girls' education is strong, with 87% of men and 95% of women in rural areas, and 95% of both men and women in urban areas, expressing their support.
The survey also found that many families in Afghanistan continue to educate their girls by sending them to secret schools, using online courses, or radio programs. Hundreds of thousands of girls in Afghanistan have taken advantage of the educational content provided by the Malala Fund since the Taliban regained power.
Former Afghan Deputy Education Minister Sardar Mohammad Rahimi, currently teaching at the National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations in Paris, has been a vocal critic of the Taliban's education policies. He argues that the Taliban do not want to accept that Afghans want to adopt a different lifestyle and are forcing a political project and strict religious program on the Afghan people that does not align with social realities in Afghanistan.
Rahimi also claims that surveys conducted before the Taliban took power showed a high interest in education among Afghans, particularly women and girls. He accuses the Taliban of trying to impose their own interpretation of Sharia on the Afghan people and the international community.
The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) reports that at least 1.4 million girls have been "deliberately deprived" of schooling due to Taliban policies. The Taliban's oppressive measures against women, which have been in place for four years, have left many questioning the Taliban's commitment to the well-being and education of the Afghan people.
Despite these challenges, the fight for girls' education in Afghanistan continues. The Malala Fund, along with countless individuals and organisations, remains dedicated to ensuring that every girl in Afghanistan has the opportunity to learn, grow, and shape her future.
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