Education In Afghanistan: A Right Or A Privilege?

Education is compulsory in Afghanistan through the ninth grade, which children normally reach at around 14 years old. However, in reality, many children have no access to education at all, and girls are disproportionately affected. In 2021, there were nearly 10 million students in Afghanistan, including 3.2 million girls. However, since the Taliban took control of the country in 2021, girls have been banned from secondary education, and in 2022, from university education. This means that Afghanistan is currently the only country in the world to suspend girls' and women's access to education.

Girls' access to education in Afghanistan

Historical Context

During the Taliban's first period of governance from 1996 to 2001, girls were banned from receiving any form of education. After the Taliban was ousted in 2001, there was a significant push to get girls into schools, with the number of female students rising from fewer than 50,000 in 2001 to 3.2 million in 2013. By 2017, 39% of girls were attending school, compared to just 6% in 2003.

Current Situation

Despite this progress, the return of the Taliban in 2021 has resulted in a rollback of girls' access to education. The Taliban initially stated that boys' secondary schools would reopen in September 2021, with no mention of girls' schools. Since then, primary schools for girls have remained open, but most high schools have been closed, and girls have effectively been barred from receiving secondary education. In December 2022, the Taliban also prohibited women from attending universities, sparking protests and international condemnation.

Reasons for Denial of Education

The Taliban has provided various justifications for their policies, citing the need to ensure that education is in line with Islamic law and Afghan traditions. They have also stated that they need time to develop a new curriculum with a greater focus on religious studies and a reduction in secular subjects. Additionally, there is a shortage of female teachers, particularly in rural areas, which has been a barrier to girls' education as many families do not allow their daughters to be taught by men.

Impact and Response

The denial of education has had a devastating impact on girls and young women in Afghanistan, with reports of students being left heartbroken and hopeless. There are also concerns that the lack of access to education will lead to increased child marriages, as families may feel that marriage is the only way to provide for their daughters. The international community has largely condemned the Taliban's actions, with organisations like UNESCO calling for immediate and non-negotiable access to education for all girls and young women. There have also been calls for increased funding and support for community-based education initiatives to ensure that girls can continue their studies.

The situation regarding girls' access to education in Afghanistan remains uncertain. While there have been some reports of schools reopening for girls in a few provinces, the future of girls' education under the Taliban remains unclear, and the international community continues to pressure the Taliban to uphold the right to education for all.

The Taliban's impact on education

During the Taliban's previous rule from 1996 to 2001, the group enforced strict rules that prohibited women and girls from working or going to school. The Taliban also banned television, music, and movies, and women were not allowed to drive or leave their homes without a male relative.

Since the Taliban's return to power in August 2021, the group has barred girls from secondary education and prohibited female students from university, sparking international outcry and protests. In December 2023, the United Nations investigated claims that Afghan girls of all ages were allowed to study at religious schools.

The Taliban's actions have resulted in millions of girls in Afghanistan being unable to go to school. In some provinces, girls are only allowed to attend school up to the sixth grade. In other areas, girls' schools have been closed entirely.

The Taliban has also imposed restrictions on teachers, threatening and attacking them. In some cases, teachers have been pressured to leave the area or fired for teaching English classes.

The group has also implemented changes to the curriculum, giving priority to religious studies and removing classes on culture, music, and terrorism.

International efforts to improve education in Afghanistan

Afghanistan has one of the youngest populations in the world, and providing quality education is critical to boosting economic growth and democratic development. However, societal challenges, including conflict, instability, and traditional norms, have impeded equal access to education, especially for women and girls. International efforts to improve education in Afghanistan have been significant, and various organizations have implemented initiatives to address these challenges and increase access to education for all Afghans.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have been supporting education in Afghanistan since its inception and have witnessed substantial gains, particularly over the last two decades. Despite recent setbacks due to the Taliban takeover, UNESCO remains committed to protecting the right to education for all Afghans, especially girls and women. They have developed the Multi-Country Preparedness and Response Plan (MCPRP) to address both immediate and medium-term education needs in Afghanistan and neighbouring countries. Their efforts include providing community-based literacy classes, supporting teacher training, monitoring access to higher education for women, and developing learning assessment frameworks.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has also played a crucial role in improving education in Afghanistan. They work closely with the Ministry of Education and other partners to increase enrolment and retention rates, especially for vulnerable children and girls. UNICEF supports the formal school system and the government's Community-Based Education (CBE) programme, establishing community-based schools and accelerated learning centres within a three-kilometre range of each child's community. They also help identify alternative pathways to learning and improve the quality of education by working with the Ministry of Education to develop a National Assessment Framework. Additionally, UNICEF provides emergency education during disasters and conflicts, promoting social cohesion and a culture of peace in local communities.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been another key player in improving education in Afghanistan. Since 2008, USAID has helped increase access to education for three million Afghan girls, contributing to an overall enrolment of more than 9.5 million students in 2020, 39% of whom were girls. They have improved school infrastructure in rural areas, rehabilitated existing schools, and strengthened community-based education. USAID has also provided scholarships to nearly 11,500 women to become teachers and develop female teacher training hubs, addressing the shortage of female teachers, especially in rural areas.

The Norwegian Afghanistan Committee (NAC) has focused on improving access to and the quality of education for underserved children, youth, and adults in rural and hard-to-reach communities. NAC provides support at various levels, from pre-natal child development to tertiary education. They have established and supported community-based education classes and temporary learning spaces, particularly for girls who have been banned from attending formal schools. NAC has also implemented initiatives such as THINK Labs and learning circles to address systemic gaps in education provision and quality.

Despite these international efforts, the education system in Afghanistan continues to face challenges due to the Taliban's restrictions on girls' education and the country's overall humanitarian crisis. However, these organizations remain committed to supporting education in Afghanistan and ensuring that all Afghans have the opportunity to realize their right to education.

The effect of violence and sexual abuse on education

Afghanistan has been one of the countries worst affected by violence against educational institutions. In 2008, there were 770 incidents of attacks on schools, and between 2006 and 2009, 439 teachers, education employees, and students were killed—one of the highest death rates in the world.

The increased rates of sexual harassment and violence against women have resulted from the Taliban's rollback of their fundamental rights and more restricted access to services. Women are fearful of attending institutions of primary, secondary, or tertiary education. According to the Ministry of Public Health in Afghanistan, these occurrences have resulted in significantly higher rates of suicide, as the number of casualties exceeds the number of war deaths. Not only is the physical health of women threatened by instances of sexual assault, but their mental well-being is also at risk, as many become depressed and suffer from low self-esteem.

Since the Taliban takeover in 2021, officials under the Islamic Emirate have suspended secondary education for teenage girls. Girls are not allowed to go to school beyond the 6th grade and are barred from attending university. In December 2022, the Taliban government prohibited university education for females in Afghanistan, sparking protests and international condemnation.

The impact of violence and sexual abuse on education in Afghanistan is profound. Fear of physical attacks and sexual violence is likely to hinder children's ability to enrol in schools, particularly girls. Households may attempt to protect vulnerable members by keeping them at home or sending them to more secure locations. This fear is central to household decisions about whether to send children to school.

The Taliban's interpretation of Sharia law, which requires women to be accompanied by a male relative in public, has resulted in the firing of thousands of female teachers. This makes it more difficult for women to feel comfortable attending educational institutions and reinforces gender stereotypes that characterise women as weak.

The lack of access to education for girls and women in Afghanistan threatens to wipe out the huge gains made in education over the past 20 years. The country risks losing a generation, as educated women are essential for its development.

The role of religion in education

Afghanistan is an Islamic state, with 90% of the population following Sunni Islam, and 10-15% practising Shia Islam. The country's legal system is based on Hanafi jurisprudence, and the Taliban have stated that the country is an Islamic emirate, governed by Sharia law.

Since the Taliban's return to power, there have been growing concerns over girls' education. Many Taliban ministers were educated in madrasas in neighbouring Pakistan, so it is likely that Koranic education and Islamic teachings will become more prominent in Afghanistan. However, this does not necessarily mean an end to girls' education. The Taliban leadership has recognised the need for girls' schooling but has insisted on complete gender segregation.

There are already 5000 registered madrasas in Afghanistan, and many more non-madrasa schools. Some non-state madrasas have opened up to girls' education in recent years. It remains to be seen whether faith-based schools will teach religious education alongside secular content.

The Taliban is not alone in mixing education with religion and demanding culturally appropriate forms of education for girls. Many other leading Muslim nations continue to ban co-educational schools and require mandatory purdah practice. For example, in Saudi Arabia, the government prohibits any mixing of the sexes, and sports such as football are not allowed for female university students. However, these restrictions have not held back progress in female education, with equal numbers of boys and girls in schools and universities.

The last Minister of Education before the change of regime was a woman, Ms. Rangina Hamidi, who spoke passionately about the importance of girls' education. Millions of girls returned to school in 2002, after the fall of the previous Taliban rule, and women's visibility in public life also increased.

Despite these gains, girls' schooling remains less than universal. Conditions of war, poverty, and poor-quality schooling have created an extremely challenging environment for girls' education. Two-thirds of girls remain out of secondary education in the country, and even those in school are learning very little.

The biggest concern is that these past gains are not lost. Afghanistan remains a conservative society with deep respect for Islamic traditions, and international development partners should focus on ensuring that no girls are left outside the education system.

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