KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says Afghanistan’s education system is facing serious challenges, but stresses that rebuilding it remains possible.
In a statement posted on X on Wednesday, 28 January, UNICEF said lifting the ban on secondary and higher education for girls would allow them to gain skills, enter critical professions such as healthcare, and strengthen families, communities and the country’s future.
Girls above grade six in Afghanistan have been barred from attending schools and universities for nearly four years, following the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021.
The Taliban initially announced that girls’ education beyond primary school was suspended “until further notice”, citing the need to align education with their interpretation of Islamic principles. However, no timeline has been provided, and the ban remains in place.
UNICEF has repeatedly warned that excluding girls from education not only violates their fundamental rights but also poses long-term risks to Afghanistan’s development, economy and healthcare system.
