School In Afghanistan | Taliban Exclude Girls From Higher Education

The Taliban ruling in Afghanistan have banned girls and women from secondary schools. In a statement on the upcoming start of school, only male teachers and students are urged to take part in secondary school classes again, reports the British broadcaster BBC .

Secondary schools, whose students are usually between 13 and 18 years old, are often gender segregated in Afghanistan. They were repeatedly hit by closings during the corona pandemic . After the Taliban came to power , they remained closed for the time being. The primary schools have already reopened. Boys and girls usually attend separate classes there too. Some teachers have also resumed their work.

The UN educational and cultural organization Unesco called for the reopening of all secondary schools for girls. Otherwise, “irreparable consequences” threatened half of the Afghan population. If the girls are further excluded, this would mean "a serious violation of the fundamental right to education" for the female population, said Unesco Director General Audrey Azoulay. All teachers must also be allowed to return to class.

During the 20 years of western-backed civilian government in Afghanistan , the number of girls attending elementary schools has risen from almost zero to around 2.5 million, according to the BBC report. The female illiteracy rate has also fallen sharply. However, the successes were mainly achieved in cities and hardly in the countryside. Aid organizations now also see them in danger .

Ministry of Women replaced by authority for virtues

After regaining power in Afghanistan in August, the Taliban pledged to respect women's rights under the laws of Islam. At the beginning of the week, the government announced that women would still be allowed to attend universities, but not with men. In addition, they would have to adhere to a strict dress code.

Read also: Millions Aid For Afghans

The Taliban reportedly closed the Ministry of Women on Friday . It has been replaced by an authority that should monitor adherence to religious customs more closely. Such a ministry of virtues was responsible, among other things, for flogging women during the first Taliban rule between 1996 and 2001.

At the time, women in Afghanistan were largely banned from public life. They were only allowed to leave their apartments under threat of lashes if they were accompanied by male relatives. Since the current seizure of power, women have been instructed to stay at home and not come to work until gender segregation can be implemented.

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