Five years after seizing power in Afghanistan, the Taliban continue to enforce a secondary education ban that currently excludes 2.4 million girls, according to data released by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The agency warns that this total could surge to 4 million by 2030, effectively dismantling nearly two decades of educational progress for Afghan women and girls.
UNESCO Warns of Worsening Teacher Shortages by 2030
The prohibition goes beyond denying classrooms to young learners. Because the regime forbids women from teaching boys and men, the broader educational infrastructure faces severe strain. UNESCO estimates the Afghan system will lack more than 11,000 qualified female teachers by 2030. Hoda Jaberian of UNESCO notes that this decision forces male students to learn from unqualified male instructors or lose access to instruction altogether.
“Afghanistan is the eneste land ter wereld waar meisjes en vrouwen geen voortgezet onderwijs mogen volgen,” Jaberian stated, pointing out the unique isolation of the country’s current policies.
Did you know? UNESCO projects that the ongoing denial of education could result in approximately 600,000 women being shut out of the workforce entirely by 2066, deepening national poverty and driving up the rate of child marriages across the country.
Systemic Erasure of Women From Afghan Society
When the Taliban retook control in 2021, representatives initially promised a more moderate approach compared to their restrictive rule during the 1990s. Five years later, those assurances have largely vanished. Women and children face extensive limitations that extend far beyond school gates.
Current restrictions mandate that female residents cannot travel without a male family member. Furthermore, the regime has banned women from specific professions and removed books written by female authors from university curricula. Families attempting to bypass the ban often resort to informal measures, such as fathers teaching daughters at home in Kabul.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many girls are currently out of school in Afghanistan?
According to UNESCO figures, 2.4 million girls are excluded from secondary education under the Taliban regime.
What are the long-term economic projections of the school ban?
UNESCO estimates that about 600,000 women will be unable to work by 2066 due to educational restrictions, which experts warn will increase national poverty and child marriages.
Are women allowed to work as teachers in Afghanistan?
Women are barred from teaching boys and men, contributing to a projected deficit of over 11,000 qualified female educators by 2030.
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