UNICEF Warns 2.13 Million Afghan Children, Mostly Girls, Denied Education Amid Unprecedented Crisis

UNICEF Warns 2.13 Million Afghan Children, Mostly Girls, Denied Education Amid Unprecedented Crisis
…………..

The future of millions of children in Afghanistan is under severe threat, according to a stark warning issued by UNICEF, in reports including one joint publication with UNESCO. The UN agency highlighted an unprecedented educational crisis, stating that 2.13 million children—over 2 million of whom are girls—are currently out of school across the country.

This crisis is being driven by restrictive political policies, severe economic decline, and successive humanitarian crises. Girls are explicitly banned from attending school past the sixth grade due to policies imposed by the authorities. While boys face significant dropout rates primarily due to increasing poverty.

UNICEF cautions that if the ban on female education persists, approximately 4 million girls will be denied a secondary education by 2030, with “severe and long-term consequences” for the nation’s development and stability. The quality of education has also plummeted. Nearly half of schools lack proper buildings, and 79% operate without electricity. A critical shortage of teachers, particularly female educators, further limits access for girls.

Furthermore, religious education now constitutes almost half of weekly instruction in state schools, significantly reducing time for core subjects. This degradation is evidenced by the alarming fact that over 90% of ten-year-olds are unable to read a simple text.

The situation is compounded by the return of over two million Afghans from neighboring countries since 2023. These returning children, especially girls over the age of 12, face major enrollment barriers due to limited school capacity and gender restrictions.

UNICEF asserts that these policies are not only a “blatant violation of human rights” but also a “suicidal economic and social policy” that erodes Afghanistan’s human capital. The organization urgently called for sustained international pressure and the redirection of humanitarian aid to support inclusive and equitable education.