Afghanistan begins third school year without women in secondary education

Schools opened on Wednesday in Afghanistan for a new academic year, the third in which women are prohibited from accessing secondary education, informed the Ministry of Education.

To the Taliban authorities They banned girls from attending secondary schools in March 2022.

READ TOO: The Taliban publicly execute two people “an eye for an eye”

The ministry announced this Tuesday the start of the new course school “in all provinces to the ringing of the bell school in a ceremony” in Kabul.

The invitation sent to the media specified that the women Journalists were unable to cover the ceremony.

The Taliban government imposed an austere interpretation of Islam that drastically restricted women’s rights. women. The UN described these measures as a “gender apartheid”.

“Since more than 900 daysGirls over 12 cannot go to school” lamented the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (A MA).

Afghan students attend their first class after the start of the new school year, at a private school in Khost, on March 20, 2024. (AFP Photo) (-/)

O A MA called on the Taliban government to end this measure “unjustifiable and harmful“, considering that “the Education It is essential for peace and prosperity.”

Universities have also recently started their academic year, in the same way without womenwhich have been banned since December 2022.

Zuhal Shirzad18 years old, had to drop out of school secondary three years ago.

““I was about to fall into depression.”says the young woman, interviewed in Kabul by AFP.

“It’s very difficult for me that children my age study and I don’t. It’s gender discriminationBut I will never abandon my dreams.”To add.

“If secondary schools do not reopen (for girls), I will continue studying online to become an entrepreneur“, highlights.

There are online courses but are reserved for teenagers who have access to the internet. This does not prevent them from accumulating a delay school towards children and at the same time feel disconnected.

To the womenwho were already prohibited from playing sports, visiting museums, parks or attending beauty salons – and whose access to employment is very restricted – were gradually erased from public space under the Taliban administration.

Source: Elcomercio