2.4m Afghan Girls Denied Education

The Taliban's ban on girls' education in Afghanistan has denied around 2.4 million girls access to secondary education since 2021, with the number expected to rise to nearly four million by 2030 if the ban remains in place, according to UNESCO.

The ban is part of a broader system of restrictions on women's rights in Afghanistan, which the UN has described as 'gender apartheid'. The Taliban administration has imposed a series of restrictions on women, including banning them from universities, public parks, gyms, and beauty salons.

Girls were barred from secondary schools in March 2022, and women were barred from universities in December 2022. The number of girls denied access to secondary education in Afghanistan has risen by 200,000 since last year.

The UN has described the Taliban's restrictions on women as 'gender apartheid'. UNESCO estimates that excluding women from secondary and higher education could push around 600,000 women out of the workforce by 2066.

## Why it matters The Taliban administration's restrictions on women's rights have significant implications for the country's future. With around 90% of 10-year-olds in Afghanistan unable to read a simple text and national literacy rates at 37%, the ban on girls' education will only exacerbate the problem. UNESCO estimates that Afghanistan will have a deficit of more than 11,000 qualified female teachers by 2030.

The emotional toll of the ban on Afghan families is also significant. Fathers have expressed despair and frustration over the restrictions, with many losing sleep over what to do to help their bright and frustrated daughters. Despite the Taliban authorities' justification of the ban based on their interpretation of Islamic law, many devout fathers have questioned the ruling, stating that education is not limited to men in the Quran.

The international community has urged the Taliban administration to lift the ban, with the UN calling for the immediate restoration of girls' right to education. However, the Taliban administration, recognized solely by Russia, has not responded to calls to end the ban, with officials insisting that it is temporary.

As the situation continues to deteriorate, the future of Afghan girls and women remains uncertain. With the number of girls denied access to secondary education expected to rise to nearly four million by 2030, the international community must continue to pressure the Taliban administration to lift the ban and restore girls' right to education.