In Afghanistan, girls over the age of 12 have been barred from formal education for four years due to Taliban restrictions. With more than one million girls affected, many are turning to madrassas for basic education, although concerns about indoctrination and inadequate academic rigor persist. While some see madrassas as a temporary reprieve, the long-term implications for young women’s education remain dire.
Afghan Girls Seek Education Amidst Taliban Restrictions
Afghan Girls Seek Education Amidst Taliban Restrictions
As teenage girls in Afghanistan are denied schooling, madrassas emerge as a bleak alternative for education.
In a dimly lit madrassa in Kabul, fifteen-year-old Amina reflects on the drastic changes in her life since being banned from school. “All my dreams were shattered,” she recalls, the anguish palpable in her voice. Amina's ambition to become a doctor was born from her experience undergoing surgery for a heart defect and being inspired by the female surgeon who saved her life. However, since the Taliban retook control in 2021, all secondary education for girls has come to an abrupt halt.
According to UNICEF, over one million Afghan girls face this educational crisis. The Taliban's ban has persisted for the past four years, disrupting the lives and aspirations of countless young women across the nation. While some families manage to secure private tutoring in math, science, and languages for their daughters, wider access to education remains bleak. In response to the ongoing restrictions, madrassas—religious schools focused on Islamic teachings—have become one of the few educational avenues available to girls and women seeking an education.
Yet, concerns about indoctrination and limited curricula weigh heavily. Amina's brother, Hamid, established a private madrassa to offer educational opportunities that blend religious teachings with other subjects, aiming to restore some semblance of normalcy in the wake of the school closures. "When girls were denied education, my sister's dream was crushed," he laments, hopeful that the education they offer can help rejuvenate his sister’s aspirations.
Afghanistan currently stands as the only country where females are denied secondary and higher education en masse. The Taliban's promises to normalize the reopening of girls' schools have proved empty, leading to increasingly desperate situations for young women. Reports from human rights organizations raise alarms about the evolving madrassa education system, warning that extremist content is being integrated into curricula, undermining efforts for a balanced education.
Visiting two madrassas in Kabul—Al-Hadith and Shaikh Abdul Qadr Jilani—provides insight into this challenging educational landscape. While these institutions offer a mix of religious and academic subjects, many students express through their stories a longing for more comprehensive schooling that includes a stronger focus on science and humanities. Hadiya, a recent graduate from Shaikh Abdul Qadr Jilani, passionately speaks of her love for chemistry and physics, even as she finds herself teaching Quranic studies due to a lack of interest in her preferred subjects.
Another student, Tawqa, represents a more traditional path, expressing her desire to become a religious missionary. Yet, she acknowledges the need for broader educational experiences, a sentiment echoed by many. UN officials have voiced serious concerns about the Taliban's repressive education system's potential to foster extremism and domestic violence, warning it poses risks that reach beyond Afghanistan's borders.
Despite the bleakness of their circumstances, young women like Amina continue to harbor hope. “I still believe that one day the Taliban will allow schools and universities to reopen,” she asserts, clinging tightly to her dreams of becoming a heart surgeon. In a nation where women’s rights are increasingly threatened, the voices of these courageous girls serve as a poignant reminder of their enduring quest for education and empowerment.
According to UNICEF, over one million Afghan girls face this educational crisis. The Taliban's ban has persisted for the past four years, disrupting the lives and aspirations of countless young women across the nation. While some families manage to secure private tutoring in math, science, and languages for their daughters, wider access to education remains bleak. In response to the ongoing restrictions, madrassas—religious schools focused on Islamic teachings—have become one of the few educational avenues available to girls and women seeking an education.
Yet, concerns about indoctrination and limited curricula weigh heavily. Amina's brother, Hamid, established a private madrassa to offer educational opportunities that blend religious teachings with other subjects, aiming to restore some semblance of normalcy in the wake of the school closures. "When girls were denied education, my sister's dream was crushed," he laments, hopeful that the education they offer can help rejuvenate his sister’s aspirations.
Afghanistan currently stands as the only country where females are denied secondary and higher education en masse. The Taliban's promises to normalize the reopening of girls' schools have proved empty, leading to increasingly desperate situations for young women. Reports from human rights organizations raise alarms about the evolving madrassa education system, warning that extremist content is being integrated into curricula, undermining efforts for a balanced education.
Visiting two madrassas in Kabul—Al-Hadith and Shaikh Abdul Qadr Jilani—provides insight into this challenging educational landscape. While these institutions offer a mix of religious and academic subjects, many students express through their stories a longing for more comprehensive schooling that includes a stronger focus on science and humanities. Hadiya, a recent graduate from Shaikh Abdul Qadr Jilani, passionately speaks of her love for chemistry and physics, even as she finds herself teaching Quranic studies due to a lack of interest in her preferred subjects.
Another student, Tawqa, represents a more traditional path, expressing her desire to become a religious missionary. Yet, she acknowledges the need for broader educational experiences, a sentiment echoed by many. UN officials have voiced serious concerns about the Taliban's repressive education system's potential to foster extremism and domestic violence, warning it poses risks that reach beyond Afghanistan's borders.
Despite the bleakness of their circumstances, young women like Amina continue to harbor hope. “I still believe that one day the Taliban will allow schools and universities to reopen,” she asserts, clinging tightly to her dreams of becoming a heart surgeon. In a nation where women’s rights are increasingly threatened, the voices of these courageous girls serve as a poignant reminder of their enduring quest for education and empowerment.
