As the academic year comes to an end, a group of Afghan girls is appealing to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) to permit their return to high schools and universities in the upcoming academic year. Following the IEA”s rise to power on August 15, 2021, education for girls above the sixth grade was suspended, and by December of that year, both private and public universities were ordered to halt the education of female students until further notice.
Officials from the IEA have stated that girls” education will resume once an appropriate Islamic environment is established. With the end of the academic year approaching, many girls are advocating for permission to attend educational institutions above the sixth grade in the 1405 academic year.
Lida Rezai, a resident of the Dasht-i-Barchi area of Kabul, reflected on her situation, saying, “If our schools had not been suspended, I would be in grade ten this year. It”s painful to be left without future.” She noted that this time of year usually involved preparations for annual exams and planning for winter holidays, but for the past four years, they have been unable to attend classes. She expressed a collective desire among Afghan girls to learn and contribute to their nation”s development.
Sana Mehrabi, who also resided in Kabul and was in grade eight before the suspension, shared her disappointment about the ongoing ban on girls” education. “If schools were open to us, I would have graduated by now. I was passionate about studying in the Faculty of Languages and Literature and becoming a teacher in the future,” she said. She pleaded with the IEA to provide good news about the reopening of schools before the academic year concluded.
Meanwhile, Sahar Rahyab, who was in grade 11 in 2021, expressed her frustration over the closure of educational institutions. She had aspired to become a doctor but could not complete her studies due to the shutdown of schools. She joined others in calling for the reopening of schools and universities for girls.
Some students whose university education has been interrupted have also voiced their concerns. Nabila Salehi, a Kabul resident, recounted being in the fourth semester of the Dentistry Faculty at Ghalib private university when the ban was enforced. “Our male classmates have all graduated, but we”re still left behind,” she lamented, urging the IEA to allow female students back to universities.
Marwa Efat, who was studying Midwifery at the Esteqlal Institute of Higher Education, emphasized the importance of education for mothers to raise educated children. “We have no other request from the government except that universities be reopened,” she stated.
Experts and scholars have also called for the reopening of schools for girls above grade six and universities. Tafsir Siyahposh, an expert on Islamic and women”s rights, remarked, “In Islam, acquiring knowledge is an obligation,” highlighting the challenges of compensating for lost educational time. He urged authorities to take action for the benefit of young women.
Sanullah Salehi, an education expert, echoed these sentiments, stating that an educated girl can lead to a brighter future for families and society. He advocated for discussions between religious scholars, community elders, and officials from the IEA to find an Islamic solution for girls” education. “My final request to the IEA is that, with good intentions and within the framework of Sharia, they reopen the doors of schools and universities for girls,” he concluded.
