Kabul, Madina, who is currently in the 12th grade of a school in Kabul, says she hopes secondary schools for girls in Kabul and the rest of the country will be reopened soon. “I am optimistic after the reopening of schools in some provinces. We wish that schools will be opened in Kabul and other provinces too,” she said.
“Because the winter is coming and the weather is getting cold and facilities are very limited in public schools, so then we can’t study,” she added.
Ever since the Islamic Emirate came into power on August 15, secondary schooling for girls has been by and large closed. However, the secondary schools for girls of three northern provinces -- Balkh, Kunduz and Sar-i-Pul—were reopened two days ago.
School teacher Momina said, “The classes are segregated, even the time shift of girls and boys is different and teachers are also female and some high schools are only for girls,” Tolo News reported.
The teachers believe that long-time closure of schools not only deprives the students of education but will have detrimental effects on the system as a whole. “Girls also have the right to education and the schools must be immediately opened. A big section of society, which is women, should not be affected,” said a school teacher named Ashoqullah.
On Monday, U.N Secretary General Antonio Gueterres said that Afghan girls must become the centre of attention. “I am alarmed to see promises made to Afghan women and girls by the Taliban being broken,” he added. “I strongly appeal to the Taliban to keep their promises to women and girls and their obligations under international human rights law.”
Last month, the Taliban appointed Education Ministry had announced that only boys' schools will reopen, and only male teachers can restart their jobs.
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