Afghanistan’s new academic year begins amid continued ban on girls’ education

The new academic year in Afghanistan is set to begin on Thursday, March 20, in colder regions, as announced by the Ministry of Education. However, there was no mention of reopening schools for girls beyond grade six, marking the fourth consecutive year of their exclusion from secondary education.

A ceremony to mark the start of the academic year will be held at a high school in Kabul, attended by education officials. Despite ongoing concerns, no changes have been made to the policy preventing girls from continuing their education beyond primary school.

The restriction has drawn widespread criticism both domestically and internationally. Former political figures and activists continue to urge authorities to lift the ban, warning that it severely impacts Afghanistan’s future. Campaigns advocating for education rights have highlighted the long-term consequences of limiting access to learning for young girls, emphasizing the social and economic setbacks this could cause.

International organizations have also raised concerns, noting that the exclusion of over a million girls from school has reversed years of progress in the country’s education sector. Some officials within the administration have voiced opposition to the policy, describing it as a leadership decision rather than a religious requirement. However, internal disagreements have not led to any official policy changes.

Ahead of the new academic year, women’s rights groups held demonstrations urging the international community to take stronger action. In a joint statement, they called for political pressure on authorities to reopen schools and universities for girls, condemning the ongoing restrictions as a violation of fundamental rights.

The continuation of the education ban has reinforced concerns about the broader crackdown on women’s rights in Afghanistan, with activists calling for concrete measures rather than symbolic statements from the international community.