UNICEF: Over 2.6 Million Afghan Girls Deprived of Secondary Education in Five Years
UNICEF: Over 2.6 Million Afghan Girls Deprived of Secondary Education in Five Years
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has revealed that more than 2.6 million girls in Afghanistan have been deprived of secondary education in the five years following the assumption of power by the de facto authorities. The organization warned of the severe educational, social, and humanitarian repercussions resulting from the ongoing restrictions on girls’ and women’s education.
UNICEF noted that Afghanistan remains the only country in the world where secondary and higher education doors are effectively shut to girls and women. Girls have been barred from continuing formal education beyond the sixth grade since September 2021, while women have been prevented from attending universities since December 2022.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell stated that five years might seem like a brief period in a country’s history, but it represents a critical stage in the life of any girl. She affirmed that school not only provides girls with knowledge but also grants them the ability to express themselves and realize their potential.
She added that education constitutes a fundamental means of protection against child labor, early marriage, violence, and abuse, warning that the closure of schools has deprived girls of this protection at a time when they most need it.
According to UNICEF, girls deprived of education face increased risks including child labor, abuse, early marriage, and gender-based violence, making their continued exclusion from educational institutions an issue that transcends the right to education and encompasses aspects of protection, health, and social development.
Despite the existing restrictions, the organization affirmed its continued commitment to supporting education in Afghanistan, stating that more than 3.7 million children in public schools received emergency educational support in 2025.
Additionally, approximately 442,000 children participated in community-based learning classes, with girls making up 66% of the attendees. The organization contributed to the construction or rehabilitation of 232 schools as part of its efforts to maintain learning opportunities for children.
Russell reiterated UNICEF’s call to the de facto authorities in Afghanistan to lift the restrictions on education and allow all girls and women to immediately return to schools and universities, emphasizing the importance of ensuring their right to learn and build their futures.
