Afghan Girls Ignite Educational Initiative Amid Restrictions

In response to new educational restrictions, many Afghan girls have initiated home and online teaching classes. These efforts demonstrate their determination to continue their education and access knowledge.

Afghan Girls Continue Their Education Through Home Teaching

The barring of Afghan girls from educational institutions has prompted a number of students to set up home and virtual classes to prevent a severance from learning. While these measures are temporary and largely undertaken individually, the organizers emphasize that they can never replace formal education systems.

Hariya’s Experience from Khost Province

Hariya, a girl from Khost Province, found herself unable to continue her studies after finishing sixth grade due to the imposed restrictions in seventh grade. She is now teaching local children and her younger brothers various subjects, including spelling and English, at home. She views this activity as a motivating force to pursue her education and maintain a positive spirit.

Fatana’s Online Teaching in Kabul

In Kabul, Fatana, a university student unable to continue her studies because of the restrictions, conducts four online classes in two sessions. In addition to educating neighborhood children, she teaches religious subjects and Pashto to students from other countries, charging a minimal fee for her services.

Temporary Measures and Young Teachers’ Demands

These young educators acknowledge that online or clandestine teaching methods cannot replace educational institutions; they regard this as merely a temporary measure against academic stagnation. They are calling for the immediate removal of educational barriers imposed by the Taliban government.

Response from the Ministry of Education and Global Statistics

However, Zabihullah Hemat, spokesperson for the Taliban’s Ministry of Education, has not provided any response regarding this issue. The restrictions placed on girls’ education beyond sixth grade and on women’s university studies, which began in 2021, have faced widespread international backlash. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), as of August 15, nearly 2.6 million girls in recent years have been deprived of access to secondary education in Afghanistan.