AFGHANISTAN: 1.4 MILLION GIRLS DENIED EDUCATION
Sawabiya YarKarkara
Karkara Reports
Kabul, Afghanistan - A recent report by UNESCO reveals a staggering 1.4 million Afghan girls have been barred from receiving secondary education since the de facto authorities took power three years ago.
According to the report, Afghanistan remains the only country in the world where secondary and higher education is strictly forbidden to girls and women. This ban has resulted in almost 2.5 million girls being deprived of their right to education, representing 80% of Afghan school-age girls.
The situation is equally concerning in primary education, with a significant drop in enrollment since 2021. The de facto authorities' decision to prohibit female teachers from teaching boys has exacerbated the teacher shortage, leading to a decline in primary school enrollment.
UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay has called on the international community to maintain its mobilization for the full restoration of education for girls and women in Afghanistan, stating that "the right to education cannot be negotiated or compromised."
In response to the crisis, UNESCO has been working with partners to develop alternative learning methods, including literacy courses and distance learning programs via radio and television. However, the organization stresses that face-to-face education in a classroom cannot be replaced.
The situation in Afghanistan has severe consequences, including a rise in child labor and early marriage, and a shortage of graduates trained for highly-skilled jobs, which will exacerbate development problems.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
