According to a report released Tuesday by UNESCO, approximately 2.4 million girls in Afghanistan have been denied access to secondary education since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. The data highlights the severe impact of systemic restrictions imposed on female students, which have effectively barred them from attending middle and high school across the country.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization emphasized that these policies have created a significant educational void, reversing decades of progress in Afghan literacy and academic development. The exclusion of girls from secondary institutions remains one of the most prominent points of contention between the Taliban administration and the international community, which has frequently cited these human rights concerns as a barrier to formal diplomatic recognition.
Beyond the immediate loss of schooling, experts warn that the long-term consequences include a diminished workforce and a lack of professional development for future generations of Afghan women. While the Taliban has occasionally cited logistical or cultural justifications for the closures, international observers and human rights groups maintain that the bans are a deliberate policy of gender-based discrimination. As of now, there have been no indications of a shift in policy, leaving millions of students in limbo as the academic year continues.
UNESCO is a primary, authoritative source for global education statistics, and the figure of 2.4 million girls excluded from secondary education in Afghanistan is consistent with their long-standing reporting on the Taliban's restrictive policies. The data reflects the ongoing humanitarian and educational crisis in the region since the 2021 transition of power.
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Original report: Times of Oman