In Afghanistan, education stands at a perilous crossroads. Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, the country has become the only nation in the world where girls are systematically barred from secondary and higher education. As of 2025, at least 1.5 million girls and women are out of school, their futures clouded by uncertainty and lost opportunity.
The restrictions are sweeping. Girls may attend primary school, but after grade six, the doors close. Women have been banned from universities since December 2022, cutting off access for more than 100,000 young women. Community-Based Education (CBE), a lifeline for children in remote areas, has been severely curtailed as control shifts from international NGOs to government authorities—resulting in tens of thousands of children, mostly girls, dropping out when classes were closed or left unfunded.
Boys’ education, too, is suffering. The dismissal of female teachers has left many schools unable to offer key subjects like science, English, and art, especially in rural areas. Overcrowded classrooms, underqualified teachers, and a lack of resources further erode the quality of learning. In some provinces, language barriers and the elimination of subjects like sports and civic education have deepened disengagement among students.
Infrastructure remains a major challenge. Out of 20,000 official schools, nearly half lack usable buildings, and many operate in tents or open spaces. Chronic poverty, displacement, and child labor compound the crisis. An estimated one million Afghan children are now engaged in labor, often forced to abandon school to support their families.
The psychological toll is immense. For girls, the ban on education is not just a loss of learning but a source of deep emotional distress and hopelessness. For boys, the declining quality and relevance of education, coupled with anxiety about the future, threaten to undermine an entire generation’s prospects.
Yet, Afghanistan’s recent history shows that progress is possible. After 2001, enrollment soared, literacy rates climbed, and millions of girls entered classrooms for the first time in decades. International support and local advocacy led to new schools, improved curricula, and greater gender parity. Today, those gains are at risk of being erased.
UNESCO and humanitarian organizations continue to advocate for the right to education for all Afghans, striving to keep community-based classes open, train teachers, and provide learning materials. But without a fundamental shift in policy and societal attitudes, Afghanistan’s children—especially its girls—face a future where education is a privilege, not a right.
