Bell tolls for girls' education - 30th March 2022

Education of girls in Afghanistan suffered an unexpected blow when, within hours of finally reopening, girls' secondary schools were ordered to cease operating.

The Taliban's track record on girls' education left many on edge when it retook control of Afghanistan in 2021. The previous Taliban regime, between 1996 and 2001, had prohibited all formal girls' schooling. Yet signs of a softened approach emerged when girls were readmitted to primary education within weeks of the Taliban's takeover.

Although a swift return for girls in secondary education never materialised, there was genuine optimism when schools returned after 7 months, as 12th grade student Satayesh explains.

Satayesh Hamdard: "I am feeling very happy that the schools are open today. We came to our school with a lot of happiness, and I am hoping that our school remains open until the end of the year. We are hopeful that we could start this year with happiness and joy, with a new thought. And I hope, hope they don't disappoint us."

The school gates had barely opened when a countermand insisting girls' secondary schools remained closed dealt these hopes a crushing blow. The lack of any rational explanation coming from the ministry of education indicated that the more fundamentalist forces at the top of the regime had put their weight behind the reversal.

So deep was the outrage over the decision, dozens of women and girls openly protested along Kabul's streets, regardless of the personal consequences.

Laila Basim: "Taliban should open the girls' schools because women are half part of the society. Taliban cannot oppress the women of Afghanistan."

Nawesa: "It's in our Prophet's sayings, everyone has given us this right. But Taliban has taken away this right from us. Education is our right."

Withholding recognition of the Taliban regime's given the international community leverage to insist the universal right to education be upheld in Afghanistan, with funding even offered by some nations. Sahar's one of many students keen for a positive outcome.

Sahar Mohammadi: "When the Islamic Emirate say we must live according to Islamic laws, they need to please open the schools. Because it is in the Quran that both men and women are allowed to continue their education and study."