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Teachers, Afghanistan's secret weapon - 24 August 2022

In Afghanistan, the Taliban have been in power for a year having taken back control after foreign troops withdrew from the country.

Since seizing control, the Taliban’s sought to establish an extreme version of Islam which enforces severe restrictions on girls and women, preventing them from undertaking many everyday public activities.

Though tertiary and primary education remain accessible to girls and women, under stringent guidelines, secondary schools are yet to open their doors, consequently, hidden schools for girls are popping up.

Nafeesa, a pseudonym, attends one of these schools under the guise of going to a madrasa or Qur'anic institute.

Nafeesa: "My brother is a Talib, he wouldn't allow me to come here. He even tried to stop me when I was in grade eight. I use madrasa as an excuse to come here. My brother doesn't know that I come to school here, only my mother supports me."

Mainly based in private homes, these secret schools pose a threat to the lives of the teachers. Tamkin, not her real name, is one such teacher.

Tamkin: "Recently, some Taliban have moved in the house in front of us. They have asked several times what is going on here. I have asked the girls to say it is a madrasa. People in the neighbourhood know that I have studied shariah and women rights, and in the past I used to speak about religious topics on TV."

Although the Taliban insist they'll permit secondary school attendance for girls, they lay the blame for a lack of progress on a technicality with finalising a new Islamic curriculum. Nevertheless, Tamkin and her peers continue to put their safety at risk to secure a brighter future for their students.

Tamkin: "I didn't want these girls to be like me, they should have a better future than me. Currently, many minor girls are forced to get married, like I was. I was engaged at 12 years old. I struggled a lot to get an education, that's why I don't want them to go through as much."