Challenges Facing Afghan Refugees: Education Crisis Unfolds Amid Mass Expulsions

The forced expulsion of Afghan refugees from Pakistan has led to critical educational and communication challenges for hundreds of thousands of returning youth and children, primarily due to their unfamiliarity with the Dari and Pashto languages, as well as education in Urdu and English.

The Impact of Migration on Education in Afghanistan

The phenomenon of mass migration and forced exile of Afghan refugees from neighboring countries has deeply impacted the educational system of their homeland. Many returning children and young adults find themselves unable to read or write in the official languages of Afghanistan. Students recently expelled from Pakistan express that they face significant structural barriers to reintegrating into schools and understanding the educational system.

Struggles of Those Born in Exile

Nisar Ahmad, a resident of Ghazni province who spent his entire life in Pakistan, explains that continuing his education within the current educational system has become exceedingly difficult. Educated in Urdu and English throughout his schooling due to his upbringing in exile, he highlights that the main issue is their lack of proficiency in the writing rules of Pashto and Dari. He urges the interim government to establish remedial and terminology courses for the national languages in schools.

The Challenges Faced by Returning Girls and the Shift to Online Education

Meanwhile, Neelam, a student who was in 10th grade prior to her expulsion, has had to turn to an online Afghan school to continue her studies due to the ban on girls’ education beyond the sixth grade in her country. Nonetheless, she grapples with similar language challenges, noting that her sentences often mix English and Urdu words, complicating her communication with the local community. She too calls for supportive programs from the Ministry of Education.

Expert Recommendations to Tackle the Educational Crisis

Education activists and specialists assert that educational institutions should not return these returning refugees to primary classes due to their language challenges. Fazl-ul-Hadi Wazeen, an educator and activist, firmly believes that with the creation of special facilities and intensive classes, this issue can be resolved within a six-month to one-year timeframe. He adds that returning students should work on reducing their language gap through continuous study, practice, and support from their families and new classmates.

The Silence of Education Officials Amid Continued Expulsions from Islamabad

Despite ongoing inquiries, Qari Mansoor Ahmad Hamza, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate’s Ministry of Education, was unavailable for comment on this issue. However, state-controlled media have confirmed that officials from the Ministry of Refugees and the Ministry of Education have discussed the educational challenges and the lack of documentation for returnees. These challenges are exacerbated by reports from Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif that about 2.4 million Afghan migrants have been expelled from Pakistan since last year—a process described by international human rights organizations as forced, hasty, and lacking humanitarian standards.