In a press released issued by UNESCOM stated that “Everyone has the right to education. Everybody. But in Afghanistan, girls and women have been deprived of this fundamental right: They are no longer allowed to attend secondary school and higher education”.
According the press release “This devastating decision threatens to wipe out huge gains made in education over the past 20 years despite major challenges. It also makes Afghanistan the only country in world today to suspend girls’ and women’s access to education”.
The press release further stated that “The country risks a lost generation as educated women are essential for its development. Afghanistan – or any other country – cannot advance if half of its population is not allowed to pursue an education and participate in public life. On International Day of Education (24 January), UNESCO is calling for an immediate and non-negotiable access to education and return to school for all girls and young women in Afghanistan”.
What is the current situation of girls’ and women’s education in Afghanistan?
Since September 2021, the return to school for all Afghan girls over the age of 12 have been indefinitely postponed leaving 1.1 million girls and young women without access to formal education. Currently, 80% of school-aged Afghan girls and young women – 2.5 million people are out of school. Nearly 30% of girls in Afghanistan have never entered primary education.
In December 2022, university education for women was suspended until further notice, affecting over 100,000 female students attending government and private higher education institutions.
The number of women in higher education had increased almost 20 times during 2001 and 2018 and before the recent suspension one out of three young women were enrolled in universities.
Link for the press release https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/let-girls-and-women-afghanistan-learn?fbclid=IwAR3a6VpEhgVGcXXLpdgJ7KJLsAkDmjM6m5BsgRZ3Wkju4rckXiaxONeoy3E
