Afghanistan: The surviving students are forgotten

Two years ago on this day, the Taliban issued a decree which prohibited female students from attending secondary schools across the country. This decision ignited widespread reactions inside the country and also the intentional community called on the Taliban to revive its decision. However, there has been no word from the Taliban on reopening girls’ schools since then.

The deprived schoolgirls above the sixth grade and other female education activists, beside the Taliban, have blamed the international community, especially the countries that defend human rights values, of neglecting this matter.

A number of female students say that it has been two years that they are out of schools and are living in misery and the international community should not forget them.

They want to open the gates of universities and schools to girls above the sixth grade as soon as possible. Meanwhile, a number of women’s rights activists have expressed anger and accused the world for being silent in the matter in the last two years, adding that the countries of the world have increased their “engagement” instead of putting pressure on the Taliban during the span of time.

Taliban should open gates of schools and universities for girls

The dreams and future of thousands of girls in Afghanistan are at risk, said Amnesty International on the occasion of the two-year anniversary of the Taliban’s ban on girls’ education above the sixth grade.

On the other hand, the Secretary General of the United Nations has also said “denying girls from education in Afghanistan is an unjustifiable violation of human rights.” He demanded that the gates of schools be opened to girls as soon as possible.

Talking to Harici, a schoolgirl said that the Taliban apparently has no intention to reopen schools for girls. “We are deprived of our education rights for two years, and we have yet to hear a promising statement from the Taliban to reopen the schools,” said Fawzai.

Fawzai, who was banned from going to school, was studying in 11 grades, and had a dream to join university and become a doctor.

The international community is reluctant on girls education

She also accused other countries around the world of being “reluctant” to put pressure on the Taliban. “We have been away from education for two years. We have gone through plenty of miseries during this period of time. The international community has only issued declarations during this period, but it has no serious will to put pressure on the Taliban,” she added.

“The Taliban must explain why they have closed schools and when it will be reopened,” Freshta, a student of the 12 grades said, adding that one year was left for her higher-school graduation.

Girls attend a class after their school reopened in Kabul, Afghanistan, on March 23, 2022. (AFP)

“If serious pressure is not put on the Taliban, you can be sure that like these two years, many more years will pass and there will be no schools for girls,” she added.

She called on the Taliban to remove restrictions on the women and girls, and let them study and work.

Taliban says the ban on female education is temporary

The Taliban officials have often said that the ban on female education is temporary, but now it is getting over two years. This temporary ban is now getting a full-ban point and this is the exact concern of the Afghan girls and women.

Amid ongoing criticism, the Taliban acting interior minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani said that girl’s schools are temporarily closed and asked the people to be patient.

During a meeting with a delegation from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Haqqani stressed the need for patience regarding the issue of female education in Afghanistan.

Taliban said lifting ban on girls education will take time

The United Nations Fund under the name “Education does not wait” has once again asked the Taliban to remove the educational restrictions for girls. The UN said that 80pc of Afghan girls, who number 2.5 million, are deprived of education. Amnesty International has said that between 2001 and 2021, millions of girls in Afghanistan went to school and dreamed of becoming doctors, teachers, journalists, scientists and specialists in their fields.

It is worth mentioning that Afghanistan is the only country in the world that does not allow girls to be educated above the primary level, these girls are forced to stay at home.

Amnesty International has stated that despite their promises, the Taliban have continued to deprive girls of their right to education. The organization has demanded accountability from the Taliban regarding depriving girls of the right to education.

Apparently, the Taliban has a fixed time to reopen the girl’s school. Nada Mohammad Nadim, Acting Minister of Higher Education, has recently in an interview with National Television, said that lifting the ban on girls’ education will take time, and he asked the people to be patient.