by Carol-Lyn McKelvey, FAUSA & AIWC Cologne
As noted in a previous article, the Education Team is working to keep its finger on the pulse of access to education for girls in Afghanistan since the Taliban regained control. Frustratingly, the news is not good. In January, senior Taliban leader Zabihullah Mujahid announced that all girls would be back in school beginning March 21, the Afghan New Year. (1) When the girls showed up for school on the 21st, however, they were turned away based on a late decision the previous night.
The group blamed a lack of teachers on the closures and said they first needed to create an appropriate environment for girls to study, and decide on appropriate uniforms. A statement issued by the Taliban’s education ministry then said school openings would be postponed ‘until further notice when a comprehensive plan, in accordance with Sharia and Afghan culture, is developed.’ (2)
The girls were left feeling confused and disappointed. “This is all I prayed for the last few months, to be able to go back to school again and continue my education to achieve my dreams,” said 15-year-old Sara from Kabul. (2) From Malala to the Human Rights Watch, codemnation was swift:
Heather Barr, associate director of the women’s rights division at Human Rights Watch, said: ‘The uniforms are already very conservative and the schools are already segregated by gender. They had seven months to decide what type of scarves girls should wear on their heads and even those seven months weren’t enough. This isn’t a credible excuse...They don’t want to actually come out and admit they don’t want girls to go to school,’ she said, adding that the Taliban made similar prohibitions on education and work during their rule in the 1990s.(2)
We strongly recommend you read the whole article HERE. Additionally, as an intersection with the Health Team, to learn more about how the lack of education is affecting Afghan girls’ mental health, click HERE.
References:
1 https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/1/17/taliban-says-will-open-all-schools-for-girls-across-country
