Taliban keeps girls' schools closed

The hopes of girls in Afghanistan were dashed when secondary schools closed mere hours after the Taliban had reopened them.

Following the Taliban seizing control of Afghanistan in 2021, there were fears that they'd shut down formal education for girls as they had during their 1996 to 2001 regime. Their moves to allow girls to return to primary schools just weeks after taking control gave cause to question whether this regime would take a different stance.

7 months on, students were overjoyed at the decision to reopen girls' secondary schools. Satayesh is a grade 12 student.

Satayesh Hamdard: "I am feeling very happy that the schools are open today. We came to our school with a lot of happiness, and I am hoping that our school remains open until the end of the year. We are hopeful that we could start this year with happiness and joy, with a new thought. And I hope, hope they don't disappoint us."

But within hours, students were left distraught as their schools were forced to resume their closure. Since the education ministry offered no coherent explanation for the reversal in policy, it's believed to be due to pressure exerted by senior, more reactionary figures.

The decision prompted dozens of women and girls to take to the streets of Kabul in protest. Although previous demonstrations had led to women being detained, the strength of feelings runs high.

Laila Basim: "Taliban should open the girls' schools because women are half part of the society. Taliban cannot oppress the women of Afghanistan."

Nawesa: "It's in our Prophet's sayings, everyone has given us this right. But Taliban has taken away this right from us. Education is our right."

The international community has made women's right to education a sticking point in negotiations over recognition of the new regime, with some nations even offering to finance teachers themselves. Student Sahar hopes that their voices will be heard.

Sahar Mohammadi: "When the Islamic Emirate say we must live according to Islamic laws, they need to please open the schools. Because it is in the Quran that both men and women are allowed to continue their education and study."

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