Taliban Education Bans Leave Afghan Girls in the Dark

The Taliban's 2021 takeover barred Afghan girls from secondary and higher education, affecting 1.4 million girls, per UNESCO. Afghanistan is the only nation with such bans, which comply with the Taliban's interpretation of Sharia law. The overall number of out-of-school girls in Afghanistan now totals nearly 2.5 million, endangering a generation's future.

The Taliban have enacted educational bans affecting 1.4 million Afghan girls, according to a UN agency report released Thursday. Afghanistan remains the only country with such restrictions on female secondary and higher education.

Since assuming power in 2021, the Taliban have prevented girls above sixth grade from attending school, citing their interpretation of Sharia law as the reason. Boys, however, face no such limitations, and no plans have been made to change these policies to reopen schools for girls.

UNESCO reports that the number of girls denied education has increased by 300,000 since April 2023, with 1.1 million fewer children, both girls and boys, attending primary school. The agency warns of the severe negative consequences, including increased child labor and early marriage.

(With inputs from agencies.)