Contrary to their undertaking, the Taliban have suddenly halted a plan to reopen secondary schools for girls.
Most schools for girls over sixth-grade have been closed since the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August 2021.The group had previously said all teenage girls would be allowed to return to classes from 23 March, the start of the new school year.
However, on Tuesday the Taliban’s Ministry of Education instructed girls’ secondary schools to remain shut until further notice. Girls’ schools would reopen only once uniforms had been designed in accordance with Islamic law and tradition, the ministry said.
Keen for their government to be recognised as legitimate, the Taliban have long said that, in principle, they are in favour of education for teenage girls, as long as appropriate gender segregation arrangements are made.
When they first came to power in the 1990s, they banned all education for girls, including primary school, and barred women from almost all professions.
Teachers, parents and students who had been preparing to return to school were caught off guard by the late-night announcement. On Wednesday morning, many girls went to school, only to discover they had to go back home.
The United Nations mission in Afghanistan said it deplored the decision to extend the ban on teenage girls attending school.
The U.S. chargé d’affaires for Afghanistan, Ian McCary, said ‘This is very disappointing and contradicts many Taliban assurances and statements’.
A group of female students in black and white uniforms staged a protest against their school’s continued closure. Another group of schoolgirls, concealing their faces, released a video of themselves holding up signs decrying the school ban.
“Hijab is an excuse. Misogyny is the plan,” read one of the signs, referring to the Islamic head covering. “Education is my right,” read another.