The Stubborn Shadows of the Taliban: Education in Peril
By News Fox
In July, the Taliban made a notable announcement: a meeting of handpicked clerics to deliberate on the education ban for girls. However, the turnout and support were starkly minimal—only two clerics spoke in favor of girls’ education. Months have passed since then, and progress remains conspicuously absent. The Taliban’s intransigence on this issue forebodes a grim future for Afghanistan’s education sector.
Nazhand, an outspoken critic of the regime, lamented the dwindling hope for reopening girls’ schools. "Initially, we were hopeful that they would reopen schools, but with the passage of time, we noticed that, no, they are doing something else. They just issue anti-women verdicts after each day," she said. According to her, the Taliban’s actions are not merely educational policymaking but a strategic maneuver to consolidate their grip on power by disenfranchising women.
This stark contrast to the post-2001 era, when the US intervention had ousted the Taliban, highlights a disheartening regression. The post-Taliban constitution of 2004 had marked a historical expansion of women’s rights, including access to education, voting, and participation in civic life. Women even ran for president in 2009, a monumental step forward for a nation ravaged by four decades of conflict.
Despite these strides, Afghanistan’s infrastructure, especially in education, had long been undermined even before the Taliban’s resurgence. A 2021 UNICEF report found that over 4.2 million Afghan children were out of school, and a majority of them were girls. The socio-economic repercussions of such educational deprivation are severe, risking Afghanistan’s ability to recover and thrive. If the current cohort of 3 million girls were allowed to complete their secondary education and enter the workforce, they could contribute an estimated $5.4 billion to the nation’s economy—a boon Afghanistan can ill afford to disregard.
In addition to education, the Taliban’s stranglehold extends to the employment sector. A report by Amnesty International reveals that women across the country have been barred from working in numerous sectors, with exceptions only in health and education under stringent restrictions.
Activists like Nazhand refuse to remain silent against what they see as a regressive and repressive Taliban worldview. "Twenty years ago, when the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, the first thing they did was a ban on women’s access to education. We shouldn’t forget that the Taliban are still suffering from the radical and repressive mindset that they held 20 years ago," she said, signaling the faction’s unchanged outlook.
Security concerns only exacerbate the educational crisis. A suicide bombing in October claimed the lives of at least 54 students, predominantly young girls, as they attended classes in west Kabul. The tragedy underscored the persistent peril to education in a country plagued by insurgency and extremism.
As Afghanistan teeters on the brink of another educational dark age, the world watches to see if a flicker of progress can break through the shadows of Taliban rule. The implication of such inaction is clear: without substantial reforms, the promise of a brighter future for Afghan youth, especially girls, remains grimly out of reach.
In July, the Taliban convened a select group of clerics to discuss the education ban affecting girls in Afghanistan, but only two clerics supported the continuation of education for girls. Since then, no significant progress has been made by the Taliban regarding this matter. After the U.S. military intervention in Afghanistan in late 2001 and the subsequent ousting of the Taliban, the country saw significant socioeconomic reforms, including enhancements in women’s rights. By 2009, Afghan women were participating in presidential elections for the first time. However, prior to the Taliban’s resurgence in August 2021, a UNICEF report revealed that over 4.2 million children were already out of school, with 60% of them being girls. UNICEF indicated that Afghanistan could see a potential economic boost of at least $5.4 billion if the current cohort of 3 million girls completed their secondary education and joined the workforce. Furthermore, Amnesty International reported that the Taliban have restricted women from working across several sectors, with exceptions only in certain areas like health and education. These combined restrictions have prevented women from contributing effectively to the economy and have perpetuated a cycle of socioeconomic repression. Additionally, security concerns remain high, highlighted by a suicide bombing in October that killed at least 54 students, including 54 young girls, marking it as the second major attack on educational institutions since the Taliban’s return to power.
In addition to the severe restrictions on women’s participation in education and the workforce imposed by the Taliban, there are ongoing security threats and acts of violence that further jeopardize the educational aspirations of Afghan girls. The administration’s reluctance to reverse the education ban signifies a deep-seated ideological stance rather than administrative challenges. Recent deadly attacks on educational centers, like the one in west Kabul, highlight the perilous environment that students, especially girls, face. Such incidents underscore not only the physical risks but also the psychological trauma inflicted on young learners and their families.
The socio-economic implications of these restrictions are dire. Education is a pivotal factor for economic growth and societal development. Empirical evidence suggests that permitting girls to complete their education could infuse billions into Afghanistan’s economy. Moreover, educated women tend to delay marriage, have fewer children, and contribute more significantly to their family’s health and education, creating a virtuous cycle of social benefits.
In contrast to the Taliban’s current stance, the post-2001 era under a new constitution saw the introduction of significant reforms that expanded women’s rights. Unfortunately, these gains are rapidly eroding, placing Afghanistan at risk of regressing to a time marked by gender-based oppression and limited individual freedoms.
International organizations like the United Nations and human rights groups continue to pressure the Taliban regime to honor their commitments to human rights, including girls’ access to education. The international community’s sustained engagement is crucial in advocating for Afghan women’s rights, leveraging diplomatic and economic tools to incentivize policy shifts.
Internally, Afghan women like Nazhand remain vocal about their rights, refusing to be silent or passive. They call for global solidarity and continued advocacy to ensure that the progress made over the past two decades is not completely undone. The resilience and determination of these women are pivotal in the longer-term struggle for gender equality in Afghanistan.
In conclusion, the current education ban on girls and restrictions on women’s employment are not just social issues but significantly undermine the country’s socio-economic future. The Taliban’s approach, marked by ideological rigidity and political exploitation of women’s rights, continues to stifle progress, necessitating robust internal resistance and sustained international advocacy.