Taliban education ban leaves Afghan fathers fearing for daughters’ futures

Email: online@newsofbahrain.com

Kabul: Afghan fathers feel helpless as Taliban regulations prohibit their daughters from continuing their education beyond primary school. Many fathers, especially religious parents, have voiced grief and sorrow at seeing their daughters' scholastic aspirations shattered.

In March 2022, the Taliban prohibited girls from secondary schools and later outlawed women from colleges, becoming Afghanistan the only country in which girls and women are officially excluded from secondary and higher education. The restrictions have prevented many young girls from pursuing careers they formerly desired, such as becoming physicians, teachers, and professionals.

For families, the restriction has become a highly personal concern. Fathers interviewed by AFP revealed the pain of seeing their daughters stay at home after finishing primary school, with some questioning why their children should be denied chances afforded to boys.

The Taliban says that such restricts are based on its interpretation of Islamic law, yet the policy has drawn considerable international censure. Beyond depriving millions of girls of an education, the limitations are contributing to a scarcity of female professionals, particularly in Afghanistan's healthcare sector, raising significant fears about the country's future.