Afghanistan Times
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AT KABUL: As the new academic year begins in Afghanistan, nearly 400,000 more girls have been barred from attending school, bringing the total number of girls out of education to 2.2 million, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Now in its third year, the Islamic Emirate’s ban on secondary education for girls is tightening its grip, deepening a crisis that threatens the country’s future and could have irreversible consequences for generations to come.
In a statement this week, Catherine Russell, UNICEF’s executive director, warned that if the ban continues through 2030, over four million girls will have lost their right to education beyond primary school.
“The consequences for these girls—and for Afghanistan—are catastrophic,” Russell said.
The impact of the policy extends far beyond the classroom. Experts warn that depriving girls of education weakens the country’s health care system, cripples its economy, and erodes its social fabric. Without access to schooling, girls are at greater risk of early marriage, a reality that has severe implications for their physical and mental well-being.
Russell cautioned that the lack of educated women will also devastate Afghanistan’s health sector, with dire consequences for maternal and infant mortality rates.
“With fewer female doctors and midwives, girls and women will not receive the care they need,” she said. “We estimate an additional 1,600 maternal deaths and more than 3,500 infant deaths. These are not just numbers—these are lives lost and families shattered.”
A Growing Call for Change
Even as the Islamic Emirate’s leadership shows no signs of reversing course, pressure is mounting from within the country.
Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, in his New Year’s message, called for the immediate reopening of schools for girls, emphasizing that education is the foundation of national progress.
“A country cannot move forward if half of its population is left behind,” Karzai said.
Despite the restrictions, UNICEF continues to operate community-based education programs, reaching 445,000 children, 64 percent of whom are girls. The organization is also training female teachers to serve as role models and advocates for education.
Russell reaffirmed UNICEF’s “unwavering” commitment to Afghan children and issued an urgent plea to the Islamic Emirate.
“If these capable, bright young girls continue to be denied an education, the repercussions will last for generations,” she warned. “Afghanistan cannot afford to leave half of its population behind.”
