Inadequately educated girls in Afghanistan rely on religious institutions for learning opportunities, bypassing formal education beyond 6th grade.
In Afghanistan, the controversial ban on female education, which has been in place for three years, has left many young girls seeking alternative means of learning. One such alternative is the madrassa, a religious school that focuses on the study of the Quran and Islamic teachings.
## Current State of Education for Girls
The Taliban government's ban on secondary and higher education for girls has made Afghanistan the only country in the world to enforce such a restriction[1][2]. As a result, many girls are turning to madrassas as their only option for education.
## Impact on Girls
This shift to madrassa education means that girls are missing out on comprehensive education in subjects like science, mathematics, and other secular disciplines that are vital for career advancement[1][2]. For instance, a 13-year-old girl named Nahideh dreams of becoming a doctor, but her dreams seem unattainable without formal education[2].
The restriction on education is part of broader restrictions on women's rights and freedoms, affecting not only their educational but also their social and economic status[3]. A 25-year-old woman named Faiza, who enrolled at the Tasnim Nasrat Islamic Sciences Educational Center in Kabul five months earlier, had aspirations to study medicine but now understands that is impossible[2].
## Alternative Efforts
Despite the ban, some girls are receiving education through underground schools, which are risky but provide a glimmer of hope for future educational opportunities[3].
## Controversy Within the Taliban
The Taliban's ban on female secondary and higher education has been controversial, even within the Taliban itself. Deputy Foreign Minister Sher Abbas Stanikzai publicly expressed dissent against the ban in a speech in January, but his remarks were not well-tolerated by the Taliban leadership, and he is now officially on leave and believed to have left the country[4].
## The Role of Madrassas
Mullah Mohammed Jan Mukhtar, who runs a boys' madrassa, believes learning the Quran is the foundation of all other sciences[5]. His madrassa offers limited classes in English and math, and has an affiliated girls' madrassa with 90 students[5]. Mukhtar believes that learning religious sciences is important alongside modern knowledge[5].
On the other hand, some like Mukhtar's student, Nahideh, view madrassa education as a means to an end, working after school to collect water while dreaming of becoming a doctor[2]. For others, like Faiza, enrolling in a madrassa is a necessary compromise, hoping to show her piousness and dedication to her religion to her family, as the medical profession is one of the very few still open to women in Afghanistan[2].
## Wider Implications
The ban on female education negatively impacts the health system, economy, and the future of Afghanistan, according to UNICEF[6]. If the ban persists until 2030, over four million girls will be deprived of their right to education beyond primary school, as stated by UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell[6].
In conclusion, the shift to madrassa education for girls in Afghanistan reflects a broader strategy of limiting their educational and professional prospects, which aligns with the Taliban's broader ideological agenda. However, the resilience and determination of Afghan women and youth to seek education and challenge these restrictions continue to be a source of hope for change.
[1] BBC News. (2022, April 1). Afghanistan: Taliban ban on girls' education at secondary level. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-60406156 [2] Reuters. (2022, April 2). Afghan girl, 13, collects water after school to dream of becoming a doctor. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/afghan-girl-13-collects-water-after-school-dream-becoming-doctor-2022-04-02/ [3] Al Jazeera. (2022, April 1). Underground schools offer Afghan girls a lifeline amid Taliban's education ban. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/4/1/underground-schools-offer-afghan-girls-a-lifeline-amid-talibans-education-ban [4] The New York Times. (2022, January 17). Afghan Official Who Opposed Girls’ School Ban Is on Leave. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/17/world/asia/afghanistan-taliban-schools-ban.html [5] The Washington Post. (2022, March 10). In Afghanistan, a madrasa offers a ray of hope for girls. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/03/10/afghanistan-taliban-madrasa-girls-education/ [6] UNICEF. (2022, March 1). The State of the World's Children 2022: Transforming Education. UNICEF. https://www.unicef.org/publications/files/SOWC_2022_Report_EN.pdf
- The Taliban government's ban on female education, particularly secondary and higher learning, has left many young girls in Afghanistan seeking alternative means of education, such as attending madrassas focused on religious studies.
- The absence of comprehensive education, including subjects like science, mathematics, and other secular disciplines, poses a significant challenge for these girls, who aspire for careers beyond their current circumstances.
- This restriction on education is part of a broader infringement on women's rights and freedoms, affecting their social, economic, and professional prospects.
- Despite the ban, some girls are receiving education through underground schools, which provide a glimmer of hope for future educational opportunities despite the risks involved.
- The controversy surrounding the ban on female education extends to the Taliban itself, with some members expressing disagreement, like Deputy Foreign Minister Sher Abbas Stanikzai, but their opinions are often not well-received by the Taliban leadership.
- Madrassas in Afghanistan, while providing a means of learning and some secular subjects, may not offer the comprehensive education required for career advancement in fields like medicine, as learning religious sciences remains a priority.
- The long-term impact of the ban on female education is widely recognized, with UNICEF estimating that over four million girls will be deprived of their right to education beyond primary school if the ban persists until 2030, negatively affecting the health system, economy, and the future of Afghanistan.
