Taliban Allows Afghan Girls Of All Ages To Study In Religious Schools

After banning education beyond Class 6 for all girls, the Taliban has now allowed Afghan girls of all ages to study in religious schools. The Taliban official has said that the girls will be permitted to study in religious schools, which are traditionally boys-only.

Roza Otunbayeva, who is serving as United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres’ Special Representative for Afghanistan and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), told the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) that Afghan girls could study at the Islamic schools known as madrassas. However, she did not know how many girls were able to study in the schools. 

There are around 20,000 religious schools in Afghanistan. Out of which, 13,500 schools are government-controlled. 

Taliban bans female students from attending school

In August, Taliban banned female students from attending school after the third grade, in yet another serious attack on women’s rights.

Previously, girls were permitted to attend school until the sixth grade. Taliban officials advised schools and educational institutions across Afghanistan not to allow girls above the age of 10 to attend basic school.

Previously, girls aged 11 and up were barred from attending schools. Women were barred from enrolling in universities to get higher education.

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A sixth-grade student in Afghanistan told the BBC, “We were told that girls who are tall and over 10 years old are not allowed to enter the school.”

After the Taliban took over Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban officials prohibited young girls from attending schools above the sixth grade. 

Women were denied access to basic medical facilities due to a shortage of female healthcare workers. They were not allowed to be in touch with male doctors. 

Only women, according to the Taliban, can cure other women. Around 80% of women in the media have lost their employment.

In a huge blow to women’s rights, Taliban is now sending women to jail in the name of protecting them from gender-based violence. 

Since the Taliban takeover,  women and girls have been deprived of their rights. There has been a rampant increase in crimes against women in Afghanistan.