The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) urged the Taliban-led government to reverse the ban on girls’ access to education in Afghanistan.
The remarks came on UNESCO’s Twitter official account on Monday, noting the significance of education and training for women and their role in developing a country.
“Educated and trained women are essential for a nation’s development”.
Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, girls and women have been deprived of the right to education. They are no longer allowed to attend secondary school and higher education.
The organization also stated that the decision would threaten to lose education gains over the past 20 years amid a humanitarian crisis in the country.
The statement added, “Afghanistan is the only country in the world that bars them (women and girls) from receiving an education. It risks a lost generation unless it urgently reverses its decision”.
The organization also shared a photo on its Twitter account showing female teachers with girls’ students, indicating the percentage of female teachers in Afghanistan. It read that in 2007, the percentage of female teachers was 27%; within a decade, it increased to 36%, while it came down to a question mark in 2023.
Since the Taliban announced a ban on education, more than 1.1 million Afghan girls over 12 have been deprived of returning to school.
Currently, 80% of school-aged girls and young women, which makes 2.5 million people lack access to education and school. According to UNESCO, nearly 30% of girls in Afghanistan have never entered primary education.
