Women permanently banned from schools in Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s education authorities have reiterated long-standing restrictions on female education, sparking renewed concerns among international human rights observers.

Sheikh Neda Mohammad Nadeem, the country’s Higher Education Minister, addressed the media, emphasising that women’s access to universities remains “suspended until further notice,” a phrase consistently used since the initial university ban in 2022.

Women have been barred from tertiary institutions in Afghanistan since December 2022, while secondary schoolgirls have been unable to attend classes since August 2021.

The announcement by Minister Nadeem does not indicate a new policy but reinforces the existing restrictions, leaving millions of Afghan women and girls without educational opportunities.

Despite the persistent barriers, UN Women has not issued a statement regarding the ongoing situation.

UNESCO and UNICEF reports highlight that approximately 2.2 million girls remain unable to attend school, making Afghanistan the only country globally with a total ban on female education at secondary and tertiary levels.

The prolonged suspension of women’s education has raised alarms over the social and economic impact on the country’s future workforce.

Experts warn that denying women access to education not only limits personal development but also undermines broader national development and human rights obligations.

The Taliban government maintains that the restrictions are part of its policy framework, leaving the international community closely monitoring the situation.

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