According to a report from UNESCO, 2.4 million girls in Afghanistan are currently excluded from secondary education, five years after the Taliban regained control of the country. This situation has resulted in Afghanistan being the only nation that formally prohibits girls and women from receiving education beyond the primary level. The agency has called for the immediate restoration of these rights, emphasizing that the consequences of the Taliban's policies extend beyond education, affecting women's employment opportunities and their ability to travel without a male guardian.
The Taliban's return to power on August 15, 2021, coincided with the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces from Afghanistan. Following this, the group implemented restrictions on girls' access to secondary schools, which later expanded to universities and various public roles. Despite ongoing pressure from international organizations and human rights advocates, the Taliban has maintained that these education restrictions are a domestic issue.
UNESCO noted that the educational gains made by Afghan girls over the past two decades have been significantly reversed, with nearly 1 million girls enrolled in secondary education by 2021. The agency highlighted that denying education to girls, combined with restrictions on women's employment, could exacerbate Afghanistan's economic challenges, where nearly half the population lives below the poverty line. Additionally, the exclusion from education may negatively impact the mental and physical well-being of girls and increase the likelihood of early marriages.
The ban on female teachers is also contributing to teacher shortages and undermining the overall quality of education in Afghanistan. In response to the closure of formal educational institutions for women and girls, UNESCO has shifted to community-based education and skills development programs, which have seen participation from nearly 70,000 individuals, with women making up 73% of the learners. However, UNESCO acknowledges that these alternative programs cannot replace formal schooling. The agency continues to advocate for the restoration of educational rights for Afghan girls and women.